Oaks, Derby Ticket Prices Increased

Churchill Downs announced Nov. 17 it will increase walk-up general admission and advanced purchase pricing for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

General admission tickets for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be available for online purchase at noon (all times EST) beginning Nov. 16 and purchasers will save up to 25% on final 2017 Kentucky Derby general admission tickets and 33% on tickets to the Oaks if purchased prior to 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31. Early pricing for the general admission tickets will be $60 for the Kentucky Derby and $40 for the Kentucky Oaks if obtained prior to the Dec. 31 deadline, an increase of $10 apiece over advance purchase prices from 2015 and 2016.

Starting Jan. 1, pricing for general admission will increase to $70 for the Kentucky Derby and $45 for the Oaks. Those prices will remain in place through April 24. From April 25 until the day before each respective race, the price of a general admission ticket will rise to $55 for the Kentucky Oaks and $75 for the Derby.

The walk-up purchase price for general admission tickets on the day of the respective events will be $80 for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6, and $60 for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 5. Those prices represent an increase over the 2015-2016 walk-up purchase prices of $60 for the Derby and $40 for the Oaks.

The price increases for both Oaks and Derby general admission tickets have been gradual over the past 15 years. When walk-up prices were increased to $50 for the Derby and $30 for the Oaks in 2012, it represented the first for either event since a $5 increase for both in 2001.

Even with the increases, the highest general admission price for the Kentucky Derby still comes in lower than pricing for the inaugural Pegasus World Cup (gr. I) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, which has its cheapest ticket available at $100.

General Admission tickets for the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby can be purchased online starting Thursday at www.KentuckyDerby.com/tickets. Patrons should click on "Ticket Options" and then "General Admission" to purchase tickets.

General admission tickets to racing and entertainment events at Churchill Downs provide access to non-reserved seating areas of the first floor Clubhouse and Grandstand, the Paddock Plaza and Paddock Garden areas, and to the Infield, where fans can view the races and all aspects of Kentucky Derby and Oaks celebrations on the 15,224 square-foot 4K high-definition LED Big Board. The general admission tickets do not include a reserved seat or access to a reserved seating area.