My uncle won over 17k on Derby day, one of the earlier races in the day. Biggest win I've ever seen!

As part of Derby Festival, there's Thunder Over Louisville, of course, the Mini-Marathon and Marathon, the Great Balloon Race, the Great Steam Boat Race on Ohio River (with Belle of Louisville), the Pegasus Parade, and many more events around town.

As usual, you nailed it Mark! Great job.

This has to be my favorite channel. Literally everytime I'm thinking about traveling this pag gives me all the information I need

@6:02 Born and raised in Kentucky, lived in Louisville many years and have attended the Derby many times, and have never, ever heard or said going to Derby, always, going to THE DERBY.

The Churchill Downs paddock improvements hit a big milestone today. The paddock and connected offices were torn down today.

Thank you for such a wonderful video.

Awesome video

Well this is interesting, I've never even considered checking this out. Might have to give it a go.

Great info!

Love Thunder and Derby, but from the comfort of my living room. I live in New Albany on the Indiana side of the river. The military jets usually make their turns back up river for the Thunder air show right over my house. Thunder air show and fireworks coverage is rotated through the local TV stations each year and the local NBC affiliate has wall to wall coverage from Churchill Downs on Derby day, except when they have to make way for Network coverage of the Derby itself.

Pretty good advice. The track also has limitations on what you can bring in as far as purses and bags. Check that out beforehand. But, you can bring in a boxes lunch…. Way cheaper - but, check the limitations before. And yes, that is my Derby hat.

#1 thing on my bucket list!

Great video

Hey! Being from KY, I think it’s a great idea to pay for parking at someones home. Kentucky folks are friendly and will take good care of your car! Bring a fancy handheld fan and don’t forget a hat 🎩 to protect your head from sunburn (and some sunscreen). I walked around in Louisville once for 4 hrs w/o sunscreen and had one of the worst burns on my shoulders! Have fun 2024 KY Derby! 🐎 P.S. placing bets makes it much more exciting!

I park every year at University of Louisvilles Football Stadium ( Papa John Stadium) and it’s super cheap and only 15 minute walk to Churchill Downs

My Daughter works at Churchill Downs:) derby week is busy and fun!

I'm from Kentucky and lived here my whole life. Never been to the derby, never seen Thunder over Louisville, never even been near the city in May. Might be worth checking out sometime?

Glad your in town for derby mark! I’d say you nailed all of them. Another I would add is to go visit the waterfront park and walk the train bridge over the Ohio into Indiana. There are several fun options just across the river all in walking distance!

I would never expected this kind of video by you but its pretty cool to me, a son of a racehorse trainer.

Hey Mark! Just something that came to mind. Next time you’re in Cleveland you should go to Antonio’s Brew Wall. It’s a casual pizzeria (counter service but they bring your pizza to you). The best part is the beer is self-serve. Good way to try some beer!

We did the Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour last year - best thing EVER!! Our tour guide was AMAZING!!! We saw so many things that you'd never get to see even if you pay a fortune to sit in Millionaires row. It is around $150/person, but HIGHLY recommended.

I grew up in Louisville, and we always called it "The Derby."

Awesome survival guide!!

Got my tickets and my hat. I can’t wait 🐎 👒🍹

The day before the Kentucky Derby there is another big horse race too The Kentucky Oaks for 3 year old fillies (female horses) just as crowded as The Kentucky Derby with 150,000 people

Took my parents and aunt a few years ago to Louisville for their birthday. Went to the Brown Hotel for Kentucky Hot Browns and the Louisville Slugger musuem and factory. Finished the day with a Louisville Bats game - good thing about Triple-A ball is that you can get great seats cheap. I got club level tickets with a $10 concessions coupon for $35.

This was a fun experience, but had a local friend who had all the connections. Didn't do the actual derby..too expensive, but was there the whole week before..endless fun. Went to the Oaks...

Had to look up what a hot brown is..It says sometime (rarely) it's served with canned peaches

The Oaks used to be much more of a local event but now out-of-towners have glommed onto this secret.

Hey Mark, will you visit any of these countries: Israel (including Haifa Gardens) India Ukraine (when it's safe, such as Carpathian mountains) Thailand Australia New Zealand (including Hobbiton)

When my aunt lived near the back of Churchill Downs (the smell was always interesting), she'd let people park in her side yard right in the dirt. Forget how many cars would fit on her property, but she made good money for one day 😂.

Oh, Mark. You all should hit up a Louisville City FC or Racing Louisville FC match some time. Lynn Family Stadium is an awesome soccer venue!

I've been wanting to go for years since. I want to dress up with the fancy hat fancy dress but I do not want to pay that price what's your suggestion

Thanks for the total heads up on what to expect. I was planning on going this year, bucket list item, but you've talked me out of it. Long lines, no parking, more lines, more crowds. I'll watch on my big screen. Appreciate you. 😊

8:20 The Museum is Closed on Derby Weekend Thursday through Saturday

OMG....I'm guessing Jocelyn put this one together! That dig about Mark's betting acumen was priceless! Only a wife would have done that! 🤣🤣😅😅 Eh, I pretty much suck at it as well, and my wife would say the same thing. They change Popes more often than I play the horses.

This year the tickets are on your phone, ticketmaster.

I used to sit in the infield every year until Churchill priced me out . Me and about 5 friends would get there on Fri night and camp out at a strip mall that was directly across the street from the stable entrance wed get beer and some food on the way and eat it there and sleep in my friends truck or outside on the walkway. ( One year a friend of mine took his dentures out, placed them on the ground and bird came by and flew away w them :)) If you go I recommend eating breakfast at Wagners Pharmacy right across the street from the infield gate. A Louisville station does its weather report from there ya may even get on TV. A couple of negatives are the concessions are grossly over priced $5 for a Pepsi bottle that you can buy in a store for $2.25 and $5 for just a chicken sandwich. Also the mint juleps are $9 but ya get to keep the glass ;) There are alot of drunk UL and UK Kids in the infield too if you wanna bet or go to the restroom or concession stand its an obstacle course getting back to your spot, Derby is great if the weather is nice but if it rains there arent alot of places to go to get cover and youll be waterlogged I recommend bringing a change of clothes for when ya get back to your vehicle. Like Mark said the betting lines are long and also staffed by temps who only work the derby and thats it alot of them dont know what they are doing . I recommend getting a TwinSpires or TVG acct you can deposit money into it and bet on your phone and avoid the lines. First post is 10 AM the gates open at 8 get there early so you can get a good spot . They have a giant video board that you can see from anywhere in the infield. There are 2 races after the Derby and the day will be over at around 8 PM the crowd thins out considerably after the Derby. The Derby race itself Is exciting my stomach feels like its on a rollercoaster and everything seems to move in slow motion until the horses cross the line. If you do go Ihope you have some big winners and have alot of fun

The Kentucky derby is a great sport and it's an American tradition

Sounds amazing. It may be a little to much for me though. If I win the lottery maybe. Lol.

I say GO!

Day trip to Lexington to see Kentucky Horse Park

Happy I neither care for horse races nor other sports events 😛. Too many dont's.

It sounds hot, crowded and miserable tbh. I live in Kentucky and have never thought about going. Love your channel though.

Woodforest Reserve! My brother used to work there before he went to work at Castle and Key!

The best advice to give about derby week in Louisville is to ride a bike. For miles around Churchill Downs is traffic that usually moves slower than an average walker. That being said CD isn't in a very good part of town... That was put lightly... Don't act like a victim outside the gates because you very well might be. The infield in the past has been a very debaucherous place to be. Nascar infields during the 70s and 80s is like kindergarten compared to that infield. Drunk children, drunk adults running across the top of portajohn row getting pelted with cans and bottles... You know, Woodstock 94 kinda stuff without the burning of everything not nailed down. Louisville is filled with great restaurants and music. Come when it's not derby season and save money and your sanity. Churchill Downs has races often. If your not into horseracing like don Madden loves football your just guessing on who you think is gonna win anyways. The main parks in the city was designed by the same guy that created central park in NYC and golden gate park in San Francisco. Worth checking out. Old Louisville has victorian houses that are in better than average condition and one secluded block has gas street lights still, check that out in the wintertime for that Charles Dickens vibe. The waterfront has outdoor concerts. I seen George Clinton once and almost everyone was dancing and getting along. Food trucks everywhere in most neighborhoods selling top notch grub. The city council wants you to think Derby is Louisville. Derby week is a cash grab, come see the real Louisville if you want to have a real vacation to tell the fam back home.

go to milwaukee

Good advice: book beforehand, but you can get a hotel about 50 to 60 miles away if you want to drive the big days, but parking will be a small problem. I lived three blocks away on M Street, and charged just a couple of dollars for parking. Past Winkler, and it's free, and only a four block walk....don't try to wear a hat in Louisville wind lol. Look at the photos. Those people are holding the hats onto their heads....mint juleps are strong, but you probably want to have one just to judge for yourself....oh, yes pace yourself and pace your money.... yes, bring plenty of cash, that's obvious....read the signs about what you can bring in...try to watch the "pools" on the board if you bet place and show. Do the math....Bad advice: don'[t wear a hat in Louisville wind. You won't have it for very long...be careful about enjoying Louisville...be sure your vehicle is serviced. Louisville mechanics are the worst and most crooked in the country.

Ay

Don’t Bet on Hit Show! He has an outside chance

My tip is, "DON'T GO".

I have one: don’t sarcastically place a bet on Seabiscuit when you know nothing about racehorses, for your buddy’s roommate might just be ignorant enough to believe you.

Locals dont go to derby. Churchill downs chased us out years ago.

Absolutely love you mark! But I do I think the don’ts of the Kentucky Derby is the derby itself. It will be a wonderful day the day the horses are not subjected to this awful “sport”

My betting dont is don't think you have to bet thru Churchill machines or tellers Appls like Twinspires can take online bets saves time and you can that way bet race to race and actually see tge horses and make decisions as the card goes on Also..horse lovers You can be in paddoxk park all day and just admire the horses while they're saddled and take on their jockey...many do that

Dress southern and you MUST WEAR A SOUTHERN HAT.

What if you die today will you go to heaven? Have you ever lied, stolen used God's name as a curse word (O-M-G)? According to God's law, you're guilty,ignorance will not be an excuse... But wait, God loves you, he made a way out. God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Please think about your eternal life, believe and repent, even after rapture you can be saved. Love Y'all

Wear your sunscreen!

I don't really mind how you call the derby the derby, just don't call it a derby.