Derby 09

We are trying to go to the Derby in May and wondering if it was resonable to stay in E-town? I know it%26#39;s normally about an hour drive but during Derby week, is traffic coming in from the south really bad. The possibility of getting a room in Louisville is out of the question. How long should we expect to take going to the races?? Also, I%26#39;m looking for a seat chart of the track, not just the sections but the rows. For example, one ticket in section 323 row A is almost half price of a seat in row D. How many rows in each section? What is a trustworthy site to order tickets?

Thanks

Derby 09

Hi Wes! I haven%26#39;t been to the Derby in years, so I%26#39;ll stop there. However, do not give up on the room situation. We have a lot of budget hotels off I-64 ( such as Microtel, Red Roof Inn, etc) in the Middletown/Jeffersontown area which is in the east end of town. Louisville hosts a lot of big conventions, so we have a lot of hotel rooms.There is absolutely no need for you to travel as far as Etown for a stay. Next, nobody drives to the track. Plan on driving toPapa John%26#39;s Stadium or the fairgrounds and catching a shuttle bus. They run all day and arebthe only way to go! Good luck on your trip planning, Derby is a blast and everyone should go once in a lifetime! Warmest regards, Linda.

Derby 09

Thanks Linda,

I looked around for availibility in a few hotels in the area and they are all are booked or very $$$$$. i.e. Holiday Inn Express $990-1100 per nite!!! I know we%26#39;ll be paying more because of the event, but not that much. The price for any other day was $99-129. So I%26#39;ll keep trying, we intend to still go and are hoping to have a great time.

Hey Wes,

That HIE quote does sound a bit high, even for Derby. Most hotels here will only quote room rates for the entire weekend. The Kentucky Oaks, run the Friday before the Derby, draws a sizeable crowd as well, which drives up the hotel demand rates and days. That might be what you would actually be paying that much for. I wouldn%26#39;t totally rule out E-town. It%26#39;s closer to 45 minutes from Louisville, and like the previous poster said, you%26#39;ll be better served using public transportation. Unless you%26#39;re well connected politically, you won%26#39;t be getting out of there any quicker than anyone else except the governor if you drive and park.

As for a good seat chart, I%26#39;m not savvy enough to steer you in the right direction on that one. I%26#39;m usually working that day, so someone else will have to help you there.

Almost any of the major re-sellers can hook you up, just know that you%26#39;ll pay a premium price, so go with a well known name like Stubhub or Ticketsnow, and enjoy!

While you are searching try southern Indiana,

Jeffersonville, New Albany, Clarksville, Sellersburg etc...

Thanks for your help,

We will be coming back to Savannah on Sunday morning, so trying to stay south of Louisville. I contacted a ticket company called Derbybox.com.(for Derby tickets) Anyone heard of them?

Hi, Wesmma11! As a life-long Louisvillian, I understand your fears about traffic. Actually, the traffic moves along quite well from E-Town up north to the track. You can get to Churchill Downs from either I-65 or via the Watterson Expressway. Have you been routed in any particular direction? The Watterson MIGHT be a better bet, as the I-65 route - Eastern Parkway to Crittenden Drive to Central is the MAIN GATE into Churchill.

I agree with an earlier poster - try Southern Indiana (you might want to go as far ';up'; as Sellersburg - which isn%26#39;t that far from the river. You might want to try New Albany, Indiana as well. It%26#39;s west of the city (down I-64), but they might have better rates than what you%26#39;ve been quoted on the Kentucky side.

Have you gone to the OFFICIAL Churchill Downs site (there%26#39;s also a ';Kentucky Derby'; site). If you don%26#39;t have any luck, let me know. My cousin works at Churchill and could probably get you a seating chart.

Haven%26#39;t heard of the ticketselling company that you refer to, but be sure that you%26#39;re not paying MONSTROUS prices for tickets that are in the ';nose bleed'; section.

Best of luck!

Never heard of derbybox.com, but that doesn%26#39;t mean it%26#39;s a bad service. I%26#39;d still be more comfortable with some of the better known sites.

If you%26#39;re leaving for Savannah Sunday morning, you%26#39;re definitely better off staying south or east.

If you%26#39;re not picky, there are a few budget chain motels along I-65 closer than E-town, but I don%26#39;t know about their availability or policies for that weekend. They%26#39;re at Shepherdsville and Brooks.

I just booked the Friday and Saturday night of Derby weekend in Sellersburg, IN for a total of $321 (taxes included). We%26#39;re staying at the Home Lodge...not sure if it%26#39;s really that great, but for the price you can%26#39;t beat it. All the other hotels that were still available were $400/night. We%26#39;re staying north of Louisville as we%26#39;ll be driving down from Wisconsin. Hope you can find something reasonable!