Turfway Park will celebrate the 142nd renewal of the Run for the Roses with its annual Kentucky Derby simulcast and party on Saturday, May 7.
Options include both free admission and reserved seating, some with buffet. All options include free admission to the Derby Party in the Paddock, from noon to 8 p.m.
The band, Naked Karate Girls, takes the stage at 1 p.m. and a DJ will be on hand to keep the music going into the evening. Big screens around the paddock will simulcast the entire Saturday race card from Churchill Downs. In case of rain, the party and the music move indoors.
The winner of Turfway’s Spiral Stakes, Oscar Nominated, earned his way to the Kentucky Derby by claiming the Spiral’s top prize of 50 qualifying points.
Owned by leading Kentucky owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Oscar Nominated has three wins and two seconds in seven starts, all on turf or Polytrack. The Derby will be his first race on dirt.
In 2011, Spiral Stakes winner Animal Kingdom made the same transition successfully when he won the Derby in his first start on dirt.
While the Homestretch restaurant has sold out, reservations that include buffet are still available in the fifth-floor clubhouse at $50 per seat at tables with a television and $45 at tables without a TV. All dining areas are smoke free.
Reserved seating without buffet service is available in Players’ Row, handicapping stations on the first floor, for $5 per seat in smoking and non-smoking sections. Tables seating six people are available on the third floor for $30 per table. The third floor is a non-smoking area.
For those without reservations, first-come, first-served seating is available in smoking and non-smoking areas around the grandstand and in the paddock. Parking is free and valet parking is available.
Silent Auction
Last year’s long-awaited Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and the legendary Secretariat are the focus of a special silent auction to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to disabled jockeys.
Turfway is one of 29 racing venues nationwide that will offer signed, framed photos of the superstars as part of their Derby day events.
The photo of Secretariat shows the legend from the inside rail as jockey Ron Turcotte looks over his shoulder at what was supposed to be his competition. That photo is signed by Turcotte.
Two different photos of American Pharoah winning the Derby are available, one signed by jockey Victor Espinoza and the other signed by trainer Bob Baffert. Baffert also signed the fourth offering, a collage of all three Triple Crown wins.
A Wealth of Wagering Opportunities
The Kentucky Oaks card on May 6 and the Kentucky Derby card on May 7 offer some of the world’s richest pari-mutuel wagering pools. Together the two days offer 13 graded stakes races, six on Friday and seven on Saturday.
On Thursday, May 5, Turfway will accept advance wagers on Churchill’s Friday and Saturday cards. On Friday, advance wagers are available on the Saturday card.
Turfway’s doors will open at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday. First post from Churchill Downs both days is 10:30 a.m. The Oaks will be Friday’s 11th race, with post time at 5:49 p.m. The Derby will be Saturday’s 12th race, with post time at 6:34 p.m.
Turfway Park is located at 7500 Turfway Road in Florence. For more information, click here .
Turfway Park