After going to the Derby a few things came to light that you may want to know about the infield.

Prep for a tailgate like going to a football game

We parked at the University of Louisville football stadium parking lot for $10. This was a pretty decent value because it was only about 4 blocks from Churchill Downs. This parking lot is big and there were tons of people tailgating. Lots of beers, liquor, games, and general tailgating activities.

Bring chairs and watch your stuff

We had some lawn chairs which turned out to be an awesome idea. However when we left our spot to watch the video screen somebody swiped one of the chairs and took all of our Kentucky Derby commemorative mint julep cups. Not a big deal but it’s kind of annoying since it looked like nobody else got there stuff swiped.

Try to sit near the side somewhere, not at the turns.

We sat at the wrong end of the track where the horses are slowing down. That was lame because I didn’t see a single horse in the act of racing.

Bet early if you can

About 90 minutes before the Derby (6PM) the lines at the betting booth started to get long. If I had it to do over again I would have placed my bet when a little earlier to avoid waiting in line for 30 minutes.