packages options for the 2026 kentucky derby
Talk about being in the center of all the action and fun! All Insider Tours Packages feature a hotel stay at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, located in the heart of Downtown Louisville, in the famous Bourbon District! This hotel lands you just 1 block’s walk to Whiskey Row, where all the best restaurants, pubs, shops, and many distilleries and tasting rooms are located. This is also short walking distance to Fourth Street Live, where many Kentucky Derby events are hosted, and a short 9 mile drive to Churchill Downs. A perfect home base for your Kentucky Derby stay!
3-Night Packages Include All Items Below:
3 Nights Hotel Stay at Springhill Suites by Marriott, located in the heart of Downtown Louisville. This ideal Bourbon District location is just 1 block’s walk to Whiskey Row, where all the best restaurants, pubs, shops, & many distilleries & tasting rooms are located. Short walking distance to Fourth Street Live as well! A perfect home base for your Kentucky Derby stay!
Reserved Seats for the 142nd Kentucky Derby (Saturday).
Reserved Seats for the Kentucky Oaks (Friday). The Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious Grade I stakes horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies (female horses), held annually at Churchill Downs the day before the Kentucky Derby. It is tradition to wear pink, cocktails are pink – everything is pink! It is one of the most attended horse races in America, second only to the Kentucky Derby. A super fun day of races preceding the Derby!
Both Days at Churchill Downs include an unlimited food & drink package, including elevated cuisine & alcoholic beverages. We’ll cheers to that!
Private Transportation to & from Churchill Downs on Oaks & Derby Days.
Welcome Party with complimentary specialty cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, & live music.
Complimentary Mimosa Bar the morning of Oaks Day (Friday) & Derby Day (Saturday).
Complimentary Bourbon Tasting after the Oaks Day Race (Friday).
Daily Breakfast Buffet is included in your package.
Welcome Goody Basket packed with Race Day Essentials, including a specialty laser-engraved bottle of Woodford Reserve’s Distiller Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 152nd Derby Edition, the official 2026 Kentucky Derby poster, snacks, drinks & more (one basket per room).
Insider Guides present 24/7, at the hotel & all events, making sure you’re having the time of your life every second of the way!
3-Night Stay Dates are April 29 – May 3, 2026
3-Night Package rates:
$3,295 – Quad Occupancy Rate Per Person
$3,495 – Triple Occupancy Rate Per Person
$3,895 – Double Occupancy Per Person
$4,995 – Single Occupancy Per Person
3-Night Stay Dates are April 30 – May 3, 2026
4-Night Packages Include All Items Below:
4-Night Stay Dates are April 29 – May 3, 2026
All Items in the 3-Night Package, plus:
1 Additional Night Stay at Springhill Suites by Marriott, includes Breakfast Buffet (arrive 1 day earlier than the 3-Night Package guests).
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Tour.
Louisville Slugger Bourbon Experience – Partake in Louisville's only custom bourbon experience, a 45-minute class that teaches you how to blend your own bourbon recipe. Optionally purchase a bottle of your custom bourbon recipe & have it blended on-site.
Jim Beam Distillery Tour & Whiskey Tasting.
Lunch is served at Jim Beam Distillery’s Restaurant, the Kitchen Table.
Bourbon & Chocolate Tasting Experience at Stitzel-Weller Distillery.
Private Transportation & Insider Guides present at all events to lead the way!
To Upgrade to the 4-Night Package with Tours, cost is +$650 per person.
4-Night Package rates:
$3,945 – Quad Occupancy Rate Per Person
$4,145 – Triple Occupancy Rate Per Person
$4,545 – Double Occupancy Per Person
$5,645 – Single Occupancy Per Person
4-Night Stay Dates are April 29 – May 3, 2026
Ticket Details! Info on Your Kentucky Derby & Oaks Reserved Seats:
Your Reserved Seating for Oaks and Derby will be located in the Starting Gate Courtyard at Churchill Downs. Seats are uncovered. Seats in the Starting Gate Courtyard provide an exceptional experience focused on the exciting moments at the start of the race, plus the homestretch dash, combined with premium, all-inclusive food, drink & amenities. Seating for Insider Tours Guests will be in Sections 121 - 127 in the Starting Gate Courtyard.
Key Benefits Include:
Prime Starting Line Views: Enjoy an unparalleled, “front-row” view of the horses as they are loaded into the gate & break at the start of the race.
Trackside Location: This area is located directly next to the dirt & turf racetracks & overlooks the beginning of the homestretch, ensuring a close-up, "courtside” experience.
Horses Pass You Twice: Experience both the excitement of the start of the race & the homestretch portion of the race. The horses pass by the Starting Gate Courtyard seats twice for double the excitement & double the fun!
Comfortable Seating: Relax in new, comfortable padded fold-down stadium-style seating that provides spectacular views of the racetrack.
Elevated Social Atmosphere: The area features an updated and upscale ambiance, designed for socializing & enjoying the day's events in a modern setting with premium finishes.
All-Inclusive Food and Beverage: Your ticket includes an all-inclusive menu of food (including a Chef's Table buffet in some adjacent pavilion areas) & a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Facility Access: Ticket holders have access to the first-floor frontside & paddock viewing areas of the facility.
** Please note: Seating is uncovered. To upgrade to a covered seating option, please inquire for pricing.
Your View from the Starting Gate Courtyard:
Booking & Cancellation Policy:
Booking & Deposit Payment Options:
50/50 Plan: 50% deposit per person to book, final 50% due March 1, 2026
Payment Plan: $200 deposit per person to book, monthly payments, final payment due March 1, 2026
Full Payment Upon Booking: Total cost of the package is paid in full upon booking.
Reservations made after March 1, 2026: Total cost of the package is due and paid in full upon booking.
Ready to Book? Call or Email us at (504) 322-7753 OR Book Online! Click Here to Book Now!
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations received before March 1, 2026 receive a full refund minus a $200 cancellation fee per person. This cancellation fee can be applied to any future re-booking. Just join us for a future Kentucky Derby, and you will recover this cancellation fee in full.
Cancellations received after March 1, 2026 are non-refundable.
“Peace of Mind” Guarantee:
If the event is cancelled due to COVID or any other reason, full refunds will be issued to all guests, including deposit.
Derby Fun Facts & Traditions:
The Race: The Derby is a Grade I stakes race for top three-year-old Thoroughbreds, run at a distance of 1 and 1/4 miles. The field is limited to 20 horses, which qualify through a points system in a series of preparatory races.
"Run for the Roses": The winning horse is draped in a spectacular blanket of over 400 red roses, a tradition that began officially in the 1930’s.
Fashion and Atmosphere: The event is a grand cultural and social spectacle known for its unique style. On race day, women typically wear large, ornate hats - every hat is unique and each hat is more grand than the next! Men typically wear colorful suits and bow ties. The atmosphere is electric, a lively mix of high fashion with an abundance of fancy food and drink, exciting race moments, and celebrity sightings!
Traditions: In addition to race day fashion, a few other ong-standing traditions include mint juleps and the singing of Stephen Foster's song "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses parade to the starting gate.
Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby is followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races in the same year to achieve the prestigious Triple Crown title.
