Ten Great Kentucky Derby Parties Outside of Louisville

Arlington Park is one of many tracks across the country that throws a Kentucky Derby party. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
Do you have a bucket list desire to go to the Kentucky Derby? Does the annual playing of “My Old Kentucky Home” bring a tear to your eye? Have you been visiting the internet to look at pictures and videos of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses? Are you using names like Dortmund, American Pharoah, Carpe Diem and Mubtaahij in your everyday conversation while your co-workers and family members stare at you? Do you have a Kentucky Derby hat or fedora tucked away in your closet?
It’s OK – you have Derby fever!
There is only one cure. CELEBRATE the Derby! What? You are not in Louisville? That’s okay. You can still find ways to celebrate the Kentucky Derby. It’s easy. Head to your local regional track for their Derby party. 
Gather your friends and don your hats. Pick your favorites and relax while enjoying world class horse racing, sipping a mint julep and singing My Old Kentucky Home at the top of your lungs. As you can see, there are many options available to celebrate the Kentucky Derby. It can be a lot of fun when you share the good times with friends as you cheer the horses home in the run for the roses! 
Here are 10 Kentucky Derby party options across the United States:
Santa Anita Park  
Santa Anita is hosting the “Biggest Derby Party West of Kentucky.” With the California-based Dortmund and American Pharoah leading the list of Derby favorites, fans will be cheering on their local hometown horses to win. Santa Anita is offering a variety of packages to enjoy Derby day. They include craft beer, lawn games and “the coolest food trucks in L.A.” along with a reggae band in the infield. In the Chandelier Room, guest chefs will be featured. In addition, Santa Anita is honoring Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund with a special Dortmund themed cup, adorned in the horse's silks colors. Santa Anita also offers a full day of live racing and will be live streaming the Kentucky Derby. The Great Race Place is offering a great way to watch the Derby!
Portland Meadows

Photo courtesy of Julie June Stewart
Portland Meadows is a wonderful local track full of ambiance and good times. They are hosting a Derby watch party and are giving folks an opportunity to “dress to impress.” There will be prizes offered for the “best dressed female” and the “best dressed male.” There is no live racing at the track that day but there will be great food and wagering available. I love that they are offering a photo booth on site to provide “lasting memories” for Derby participants. Jim Beam mint juleps in a Derby glass, live music by the Kung Pao Chickens, bourbon tasting and official Derby merchandise will complete the Derby experience. No rain gear necessary! Grab a cigar and sidle up to a “Gambling Guide” and learn all about the Derby. It will be a great party!
Lone Star Park  
Lone Star is throwing a Derby party featuring live music and a Kentucky Derby hat contest. They will be awarding prizes for the “most stylish” and “most creative” hats, which I can only imagine will be done in grand Texas style! In addition to live racing, there is a park where kids can enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo. 
Belmont Park

Belmont Park is the home of the Belmont Stakes, which is the third jewel in the Triple Crown. New York loves great horse racing and they celebrate the Kentucky Derby in a grand style. They are offering a Kentucky-themed barbeque festival, bourbon tasting and an outdoor concert in Belmont’s wonderful fan friendly backyard. For the kids there will be face painting and a petting zoo. It’s a full day starting with “Breakfast at Belmont” where one can watch the morning workouts before a race card that includes three graded stakes races. The barbeque festival sounds wonderful, offering pulled pork, brisket, wings, baked beans and other southern classics. The party sounds like a great way to enjoy Kentucky in New York! 
Gulfstream Park
If one is in Florida, Gulfstream offers South Florida’s largest Derby party with a fabulous “Derby Diva” hat contest in the walking ring where winners will be chosen in the “Chic and Sophisticated” (Ladies), “Creative and Whimsical” (Ladies) and even “Young Ladies” (12 and under) categories. Winners in each category will win a VIP Fan Experience for two and a $100 win, place, show ticket to bet. Add a Derby day buffet and a mint julep and you will feel like you are in Kentucky. Even if you are not there, you can participate in the hat contest by tweeting a “selfie” of yourself in your Derby hat. No doubt the folks in Florida will be having a great time on the first Saturday in May!
Arlington Park

Arlington Park near Chicago is holding “A Derby Party Like No Other,” offering a variety of packages for fans hungry for their mint julep experience. Of course there is a hat contest for both men and women in the paddock featuring a grand prize by the extraordinarily talented Christine A. Moore, milliner. A live band will play classic and southern rock and the Million Room will feature a delicious spread. Racing fans of all ages will enjoy the festive environment that Arlington Park offers as Chicago celebrates the first Saturday in May.
Pimlico
Pimlico is the proud home of the Preakness, which is the second jewel of the Triple Crown series. They are holding a Kentucky Derby party on the apron at Pimlico, featuring a full day of live racing and the action from Churchill Downs. The party includes live music and a menu with pit beef, barbecue chicken sandwiches, burgers, and their famous crab cake sandwiches. Horse racing fans in Baltimore will be extremely interested to see which of the Derby horses will be coming to Pimlico to run in the Preakness. They will be cheering loudly when the fastest two minutes in sports is done as they know it won’t be long before they will be cheering the Kentucky Derby winner in person.
Turf Paradise

Photo courtesy of Julie June Stewart
Last year Turf Paradise broke their attendance record when 23,805 people put on their finest Derby finery and came to enjoy mint juleps and live racing. I recently visited Turf Paradise and was very impressed with their facility. Their staff is all warm, friendly and personable and I can only imagine how fun a Derby party would be there. They feature a variety of packages for fans, including live music and a kids’ fun park. Their “hat contest” is far from typical as it features “a fashion judging of ladies in bonnets and sundresses and guys in their Kentucky Gent finery.” How much do Arizona fans love horse racing and the Kentucky Derby? Their 1,000 seat Clubhouse is already sold out. So is their “Party on the Rail” package, which features two tiki bars and tables with umbrellas for shade. It’s definitely fun in the sun in Arizona as they celebrate the First Saturday of May in a southwestern style.
Emerald Downs
From the spectacular setting of Emerald Downs comes their Kentucky Derby party. Fans will be celebrating horse racing with the magnificent Mt. Rainier in the background. A Derby hat contest and mint juleps are an important part of the day. Of course, there is lots of activities for the kids such as Emerald Downs pony rides, bounce houses and face painters. In true Northwest fashion, Emerald Downs’ Derby menu features planked salmon and chilled shrimp. Of course there is a nod to the South with Rice with Andoille sausage and peppers. Emerald Downs is featuring an extremely creative hat contest. Check out their categories: Dapper Dan (Best gents hat and ensemble), Too Hot to Trot (Best ladies hat & ensemble), Hat-a-tude (Best handmade/upcycled hat), Ride 'Em (Best horse themed), Daily Double (Best stylin' couple), and Colt and Filly (Best child's ensemble). There is fun for everyone at Emerald Downs! 
Keeneland 

The second largest Derby party in Kentucky happens at Keeneland, where locals gather to celebrate all that they love about horse racing. There is a unique Keeneland vibe to the party, which ranges from a “casual picnic-style” experience in the paddock to a “hip cocktail party” in the clubhouse. Live coverage from Churchill Downs is offered the entire day. There is also the “Derby Bash” featuring live music and a Kentucky theme buffet in the Entertainment Center and Keene Barn. General admission features access to more than 1,000 televisions for folks who bring picnic baskets. I have known many Kentucky friends who absolutely adore spending the first Saturday in May at Keeneland.