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The Museum will be open regular hours on Nov 5th & 6th during Breeders' Cup. We will open early on Sunday, Nov 7th at 8:00 a.m.
Barn & Backside Tours cancelled November 5 & 6.
No Behind the Scenes Tours available during Breeders Cup. The Historic Walking Tour will run as scheduled.
To purchase Breeders' Cup merchandise from our online store click here.
Guest Services:
The Museum and the Historic Walking Tour are wheelchair accessible.
An induction loop is available for the hearing impaired. If requested at least 10 days prior to your visit, the Museum will provide a sign language interpreter.
Exclusive Tours of Churchill Downs
All times shown are in Eastern Time.
Please note: Tour times listed in our brochure are incorrect. Please see below for correct tour times.
Historic Guided Walking Tour
(Approx 30 minutes)
Free with Museum Admission
Take a guided walking tour of historic Churchill Downs. Learn about past Derby winners and the rich history of this location. Guests will first visit our resident Thoroughbred racehorse and his sidekick miniature horse, Winston. Visitors will walk through the property to the paddock and out to the grandstand learning trivia and fun facts along the way. Bring your camera! This tour is wheelchair accessible.
(Also located in the garden terrace are the gravesites of four famous Kentucky Derby winners, Carry Back (1961), Swaps (1955), Brokers Tip (1933), and Sunny’s Halo (1983). Second place Derby finishing filly Eight Belles is interred in the museum’s back garden under a Magnolia tree planted in her honor.)
Tour Runs Daily, Every Hour
Monday - Saturday from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
Historic Walking Tours not available April 25, 2010 - May 6, 2010.
Behind the Scenes Walking Tour
(Approx 1 hour 30 minutes)
$10.00 per person no discounts apply, children 4 and under FREE
Groups and individual guests may also be treated to the exclusive VIP areas of Churchill Downs with the Behind the Scenes Walking Tour. Museum tour guides take up to 15 guests on an hour and a half long behind-the-scenes tour of the Jockeys' Quarters, Millionaires' Row, the Press Box and other areas of Churchill Downs' newly renovated clubhouse. This is an exclusive tour only offered through the Museum.
Behind the Scenes Tour Schedule:
Monday - Saturday:
10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.,
2:00 p.m.
Sunday:
12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Due to the exclusive nature of this tour, the Behind the Scenes Walking Tour will not be available during Derby week, Breeders' Cup or during racing days of the Spring and Fall Meets. (The track is generally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the meets.) Click here to view the Churchill Downs racing calendar. (Exception: this tour is offered on Fridays that are part of night racing)
Behind the Scenes Tours are not available April 24, 2010 - May 9, 2010. Reservations are recommended. Please call (502) 637-1111 ext 220 to make a reservation. No Behind the Scenes tours available September 12th due to the Churchill Downs event Fork, Cork and Style.
Barn and Backside Van Tour
(Approx 1 hour)
$10.00 no discounts apply, children 4 and under FREE
The Kentucky Derby Museum provides wonderful tours that give visitors the opportunity to see areas that are closed off to the general public. Visit the ‘other side’ of Churchill Downs to see racehorses in their environment. More than 1400 stalls dot the back of the track and most are full during the peak seasons.
On any given day of training, visitors could see a 2-year-old in line to win next year’s Derby, a nine year-old nearing retirement or the Derby winner himself. The world-class thoroughbreds range from millions of dollars in value to runners in the cheapest race with a $5,000 purse (still an incredible looking animal--- can you spot the difference?). See the horses in training, catch them during a bath, and learn about life at the track. Stops will be made for picture taking at the track (time and weather permitting). This exclusive tour is offered only to guests of the Museum. This is a great tour for horse lovers, but please note: guests will not be able to touch the animals.
Barn and Backside Tour Schedule: Available March 15 - November 30
Monday - Saturday 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m.,
1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Sunday 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Seats are limited since the group is transported to the backside in a van. Reservations are recommended. Please call (502) 637-1111 ext 220 to make a reservation. The Museum doors open promptly at 7 for tour guests only. The group will depart promptly for the tour.
Barn and Backside Van tours are not available April 25, 2010 - May 6, 2010 or November 4 - 6 2010.
Horses & Haunts Tour
(Approx 1 hour 30 minutes)
$15.00 per person.
Let this tour take you back in time to visit the spirits on the darker side of the track. Hear stories of legends and lore as you are guided from the Kentucky Derby Museum’s cemetery to the sixth floor of Churchill Downs. The tour runs every third Thursday of the month and lasts for an hour and a half.
Tour runs the 3rd Thursday of every month.
Available at 7 p.m. from September - May and at 9 p.m. from June - August.
Special October Dates:
Due to high demand for this tour in October, we've added extra dates. These additional tours will run October 7th, 14th, 18th—23rd, 28th and 29th at 7pm.
Reservations are required. Please call (502) 637-1111 ext 220 to make a reservation.
Tour Reservations
Advanced booking for all Kentucky Derby Museum tours are available with a credit card to hold your reservation. We require 24 hours notice, prior to tour departure time, for any and all reservation cancellations. Any cancellations under the 24 hours notice will be charged for reservations in full. Call (502) 637-1111 ext 220.
Click here for Group Tour information.
Please Note: Due to the nature of the operation of a race track and live Thoroughbred racing, these tours can be cancelled at any time. If you have prepaid for your tour, your money will be refunded.
