Barn and Backside Tour | Kentucky Derby Museum (2024)

FAQs

How much time should you spend at the Kentucky Derby Museum? ›

3.5 Hours:

Explore two floors of exhibits. Visit our Store to pick up some keepsakes. Finish your visit inside our Derby Cafe & Bourbon Bar for Kentucky-inspired food and drinks.

Smart Casual

Vests, shirts with collars, sweaters, dresses, pantsuits, dress jeans, dress shorts and slacks are appropriate. Don'ts: Cargo shorts, t-shirts, crop or midriff tops, athletic wear, swim wear, frayed or torn denim or shorts, and tennis shoes are considered inappropriate attire.

General Admission includes a 30-minute historical walking tour of Churchill Downs Racetrack and full access to two floors of Museum exhibits where you can see Derby fashions over the years, watch every Derby race dating back to 1918, learn the history of African Americans in horse racing, and see a replica of Churchill ...

Did you know there's a vibrant community of horses and horsem*n who live and work on the Backside of Churchill Downs? (Yes, there's even a church onsite!) In this guided van tour, you'll ride among the signature green-roofed barns that are home to 1,400 horses during the racing and training season.

Is there a dress code? Guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather for all Museum tours, including comfortable walking shoes.

The Kentucky Derby has a dress code that encourages guests to wear upscale attire. This often includes hats for women and suits or dresses for both men and women. See our helpful What to Wear guide for fashion tips.

Per the Derby's site: “The focus on pink both honors the Oaks official flower, the stargazer lily, and celebrates Churchill Downs' advocacy and fundraising efforts for women's health issues.”

As one of the most prestigious venues at Churchill Downs, Millionaire's Row boasts one of the best vantage points of the track. Take in the perfect finish line view from a covered, tiered balcony then retreat to your reserved table in the climate-controlled lounge for cuisine and refreshments.

Fierceness sits atop the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds at 5-2 after winning Champion Juvenile honors last year to go along with a dominant performance in the Florida Derby earlier this year. He dictated the pace and won by a whopping 13.5 lengths to establish himself atop the 2024 Kentucky Derby betting odds.

This list is subject to change & any item deemed inappropriate or unsafe may be denied entry at any time. Churchill Downs Racetrack will enforce a restricted bag policy from Saturday, April 27th, 2024 through Derby Day (Saturday, May 4th, 2024). Each guest is permitted one bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″.

How much do jockeys make? ›

The average jockey salary in the United States is $52,645. Jockey salaries typically range between $35,000 and $77,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for jockeys is $25.31 per hour. Jockey salary is impacted by location, education, and experience.

Monument and statue honoring Barbaro at entrance to Churchill Downs. Barbaro was cremated shortly after he was euthanized. On January 29, 2008, it was announced that his remains would be interred in front of an entrance to Churchill Downs, and that a bronze statue of Barbaro would be placed atop his remains.

50 years after Secretariat's Triple Crown win, visit his final resting place at Claiborne Farm. PARIS, Ky. (LEX 18) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown win.

Legendary horse Secretariat boasts the fastest finish in the history of the Kentucky Derby with a time of 1:57.40. The story behind the horse was adopted into a hit Disney film in 2010. Trailing behind Secretariat is Monarchos with a time of 1:59.97.

The museum consists of two floors of exhibit space, including a 360-degree theater that shows the HD film 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.

Factory tours last approximately 30 minutes. Guests will see bats being made on every tour, every day. Allow 2 hours to enjoy the entire museum and factory experience. Everyone receives a miniature souvenir bat at the end of the tour.

The Stable Exhibit

Please note, the Museum welcomes the public to take photos and videos of the animals, but visitors are not allowed to pet or interact with the horses for their safety and the safety of guests. The Stable has been part of the Museum experience since the Museum opened in 1985.

Most guests find it takes 3-5 hours to experience the park's attractions during the main season.