Important Information For Your Tour
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The time you select is the departure time for your Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour. All tours depart on schedule and unfortunately, cannot be delayed for tardy or missing ticket holders. We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes prior to tour departure.
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When choosing a time for your tour, please make sure that if you are purchasing additional tours that the start and end times do not overlap.
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Tours are conducted rain or shine. Umbrellas are prohibited for the safety of Thoroughbreds and riders on the track. In the event of rain, we suggest bringing ponchos and rain boots. Ponchos are available for purchase in The Kentucky Derby Museum Store.
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Please note: On rare occasions, tours are subject to change without advance notice and may be rerouted. Check our calendar to view amendments to our normal hours of operation.
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All tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE. For our ticket policy, please check here.
Excellent Barn Tour
We took the barn tour on the golf cart with Darrell and it was wonderful. We loved visiting the barns and seeing trainers and the horses on the track. This is the only way to tour Churchill Downs in my opinion. Darrell is so knowledgable and we loved listening to him.
Karolyn H., Tripadvisor
Churchill Downs & The Kentucky Derby Museum
No visit to Louisville, Kentucky would be complete without a visit to Churchill Downs& The Kentucky Derby Museum. While I love the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby, I have no desire to fight the crowd at one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
Plan a tour of Churchill Downs with your family during the off season
Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour
Monday through Saturday
Get ready to embark on the most comprehensive tour that the Kentucky Derby Museum has to offer! The Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour guides you through the fabled history, pageantry, and legacy of the Kentucky Derby. Youll visit some of the most exclusive dining and event spaces at Churchill Downs including Millionaires Row, the Stakes Room, and the Turf Club*. Step onto the balconies overlooking the racetrack for incredible views of the Louisville skyline and the iconic Twin Spires. Then youll get an intimate view of Thoroughbreds training for upcoming races from vantage points railside in the Grandstand and on the Backside of the track. Travel through the Infield tunnels to ride between the green-roofed barns of the Backside where legendary Derby winners have been stabled during the seasons racing meets. This vibrant community on the other side of the track will be teeming with action and excitement as you see how horses are trained and cared for by teams of skilled horsemen. Finish your tour with lunch, before returning to the Museum to explore the exhibits and enjoy our immersive 360° film, The Greatest Race.
*Areas are subject to change based on availability.
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Specialty Tours At Churchill Downs And The Museum
Kentucky Derby Museum is proud to be Churchill Downs exclusive tour partner. Tickets may be purchased at the door, but spots fill up fast! We highly recommend purchasing tour tickets in advance through our website. All of our tours offered during normal Museum business hours include General Admission to the Museum. If you are interested in purchasing more than one tour during a visit, please call 502-637-1111.
Please note: Exciting construction projects are underway at Churchill Downs! For the safety of guests, tours may be re-routed at times.
All tour tickets include General Admission to the Museum, a viewing of The Greatest Race, and access to the Derby Museum Store and the Derby Café & Bourbon Bar.
What experience are you looking for? Browse our tour options below!
Kentucky Derby Museum Make
LOUISVILLE, Ky. A 9-year-old girls dream came true Monday morning when she was given a VIP tour of Churchill Downs and got a special meet-and-greet with the Kentucky Derby Museums miniature horse.
Kori Butts is living with a nervous system disorder that affects her mobility and speech, spending many hours at doctors appointments and she and her family have never been on a vacation before. Thanks to the Kentucky Derby Museum and Make-A-Wish Foundation, Kori and her family got a days-long vacation in Louisville where they were able to relax, have fun and experience horses.
Their Kentucky Derby Museum tour guide lead them out to the famous racetrack at Churchill Downs for a private tour, where Kori said she was born ready to watch the horses run. When asked about her daughters love for horses, Koris father, Corey Butts, said, her eyes glisten, she gets giddy and absolutely lights up. This vacation has allowed her to just be a kid and not think about doctors visits.
Next, Kori and her mom got a private tour of the barns. She met Harley, a famous pony, and fed him peppermint treats. She was even gifted a collectible Breyer horse a replica of Harley.
Kori also got to meet trainer Michelle Lovell and her horse Elwood, plus trainer Greg Foley showed Kori how to feed carrots to Sconsin, a racehorse.
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Kentucky Derby Museum Is Thrilled To Welcome Guests Who Want To Check This Off Their Bucket List
We are a nonprofit organization who is entrusted to preserve the history and legacy of the Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously-running sporting event in the country dating back to the first Derby in 1875. Through our partnership with Churchill Downs, we are honored to be their exclusive tour partner.
We look forward to seeing you!
Kentucky Derby Museum And Its Collection
The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky . Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby , it first opened its doors to the public in the spring of 1985. Much of its early funding came from a donation from the estate of James Graham Brown . The museum consists of two floors of exhibit space, including a 360-degree theater that shows the HD video The Greatest Race . Through the film and exhibits, visitors can learn what goes into the breeding and training of a young foal and the path it takes to the Kentucky Derby’s winner circle. Every Kentucky Derby win is honored in the Warner L. Jones Time Machine, where visitors can watch any Kentucky Derby from 1918 to the present day. Exhibits highlight the stories of owners, trainers and jockeys as well as the importance of African American jockeys and trainers to the race and the Thoroughbred industry. Guided tours of Churchill Downs’ barn and infield areas, jockeys’ quarters, “millionaires row” and press box are also offered.
Specialized & Alternative
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Derby Museum Churchill Horsemen Help Young Girls Dream Come True Through Make
Kentucky Derby Museum and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® helped make a young girl’s horse dreams come true Monday morning. The experience included a VIP tour at Churchill Downs and a special meet-and-greet with the Museum’s miniature horse and Resident Thoroughbred.
Nine-year-old Kori Butts is living with a nervous system disorder that affects her mobility and speech. She has spent many hours of her life at countless doctor’s appointments, and the family has never been on a vacation before.
Make-A-Wish planned a days-long vacation for the family of five in the Louisville area, where Kori and her family can relax, have fun, and of course, experience horses!
Monday morning, their Kentucky Derby Museum tour guide lead them out to the famous racetrack at Churchill Downs for a private tour, where Kori said she was born ready! to watch the horses run. When asked about her daughter’s love for horses, Kori’s father, Corey Butts, says, her eyes glisten, she gets giddy and absolutely lights up. This vacation has allowed her to just be a kid and not think about doctor’s visits.
Finally, Kori and her family received a private meet-and-greet with Kentucky Derby Museum’s miniature horse and Resident Thoroughbred. Kori got to feed them treats, and perhaps the most adorable moment was when she placed her pink cowgirl hat on Ari’s head. When asked why she loves horses so much, Kori exclaimed, They’re magical and special like me!
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EquiSport Photos
Eric Kalet
Hear What Our Clients Are Saying
“…THANK YOU for hosting another exceptional Ford Oval of Honor event to recognize our nation’s veterans and gold star families. Everything about the event last week at Kentucky Derby Museum was first class! I know from my experience that these events require extensive planning, coordination, and above all committed leadership. The Kentucky Derby Museum is the only place to conduct an event in Louisville of you want to maximize your guests’ experience and creatively execute a sensational program.”
– Frank Bodwell, Ford Oval of Honor, Founder
“The Kentucky Derby Museum was the perfect venue for our introductory dinner to the McConnell Center’s Strategic Broadening Seminar. The food was delicious, the staff was incredibly friendly, and the venue was especially accommodating for our guests with allergen issues. Our soldiers were so appreciative of the experience, and we could not have made them feel so welcome to the city without the help of your team.”
– Jessica FreelsMcConnell CenterUniversity of Louisville
“Working with KDM for our first post-COVID offsite client event was effortless. Their events team, venue and protocols made for the most successful VIP experience we have hosted. From planning to execution, the KDM team was not only accommodating for our specific needs but remained at the ready and provided outstanding service for a smooth and seamless event.”
– Kristen B. Jenson, Vice PresidentMarketing, Operations & HRDavis Jewelers
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Take A Tour Of Kentucky Derby History At Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Have you ever wanted to take a tour of Churchill Downs?
The Kentucky Derby Museum serves as the exclusive tour provider of the track, offering a wide variety of tours throughout the year.
Barry Northern has been with the museum for 11 years and is one of the guides who takes people around the downs.
“I’ve lived within a few miles of Churchill Downs for pretty much my entire life, so this will be Derby No. 43 for me this year,” Northern said. “Giving tours is like a labor of love for me.”
Tours typically start in the Kentucky Derby Museum. Admission into the museum includes a tour of the racetrack.
Additional tour packages can be added on to take guests to other areas on the track via golf cart, such as the backside.
Something new guests could see on upcoming tours is the brand new Homestretch Club.
On tours, guests will also see the paddock areas, where the horses are saddled prior to each race. Northern said its one of his favorite areas of the grounds.
Other places guests can visit is the Turf Club and Millionaires Row.
Inside the Turf Club, Northern said he likes to point out the wall of winners. Each Derby winner’s name and time is hung on a wall inside the Rose Lounge, along with the year they won.
Near the Turf Club, guests can see a glass replica of Churchill Downs created by Craig Colquhoun. It contains 4,000 glass pieces illustrating jockeys, guests, the facilities and even grounds crew.
One area guests won’t get to see on tours is The Mansion.
What Youll See While Visiting Churchill Downs
Wannabe jockeys can hop on a horse and compete in virtual Derby races.
I love jockey fashion. Look at these amazing shirts!
You can even try on some of the outfits and pretend to be a jockey yourself. I made the bold fashion decision to mix brown with pink. Probably not such a great choice. But no regrets!
A small portion of the museum is devoted to the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. Talk about a niche sport! That reminds me, its been a while since Ive thrown horseshoes around. I should make that happen soon.
After the museum, its on to the outside portion of the tour, in which a guide explains the history of the venue and its races while standing in front of a long wall displaying the names of every Derby winner in history.
I had to take the time to find the most famous horse on the list.
In the summer months, you can sit in the stands and watch live horse races, as Diana from D Travels Round did during her visit. The races hadnt started yet when I visited, so I settled for checking out the empty grandstand and seeing the track where the famous race takes place.
The track is a great place to take some selfies and soak in the 140-year history of the Kentucky Derby, which began in 1875.
After our track visit, the guide offered the opportunity to head over to the horse barn and see a couple of horses up close. Im not sure if this is always part of the tour I got the impression that this was a bonus for our group.
Would you visit Churchill Downs?
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