Plan Your Visit

Watch the Museum’s epic 18-minute film that puts you at the center of the Kentucky Derby experience. It is projected larger-than-life in one of the world’s only 360° theatres using the highest quality laser projection available today. The movie will send your heart racing and emotions soaring.We recommend scheduling this prior to your tour. For example, we recommend viewing the 10:10 showing of "The Greatest Race" before a 10:30 Guided Track Visit.

See world-famous Churchill Downs Racetrack! Walk through the Grandstand where thousands of people roar with excitement on Derby day. Your Tour Guide will lead you to the rail of the legendary dirt track where every Derby winner has raced, from Aristides to Secretariat, and many more. Have your camera ready to take pictures of the historic track. Your Guide will share stories of the early days of the Kentucky Derby through its transformation into the iconic event it is today.

Start your day railside at the track! Experience the thrilling sound of hooves pounding the dirt as horses and jockeys train right in front of you! You’ll see horses gallop past at speeds up to 40 miles per hour! Your guide will share the ins and outs of training world-class Thoroughbreds while you also visit the Churchill Downs Grandstand. Be sure to have your camera ready – seeing these incredible athletes working out beneath the historic Twin Spires™ is a memory you’ll want to hold onto forever.The Thoroughbred Workout Tour is a great tour for horse lovers, but please note that guests will not be able to touch the horses.

Did you know there’s a vibrant community of horses and horsemen who live and work on the Backside of Churchill Downs? (Yes, there’s even a church onsite!) In this guided van tour, you’ll ride among the signature green-roofed barns that are home to 1,400 horses during the racing and training season. In addition to the horses, you’ll also see some of the hundreds of people who live and work on the Backside as they care for and train the world-class Thoroughbreds. You never know who you may see on the Backside – a legendary Derby trainer or even next year’s Triple Crown winner! Bring your camera for panoramic views of the racetrack, Grandstand, and the historic Twin Spires™.The Barn and Backside Tour is a great tour for horse lovers, but please note that guests will not be able to touch the horses.

“Do Derby” like a celebrity! This tour gives special access to some of the exclusive and lavish areas of Churchill Downs Racetrack where the likes of Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, and even Queen Elizabeth II have celebrated “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” The “Superstars and Spires” tour offers a glimpse of areas that aren’t open to the general public such as Millionaire’s Row, the Stakes Room, and the Turf Club*. Have your camera ready for phenomenal views of the legendary Twin Spires™, track, and the Louisville skyline.*Areas are subject to change based on availability.

Kentucky Derby Museum is honored to participate in Louisville Tourism’s Unfiltered Truth Collection. In 2021, the Museum enlarged its Black Heritage in Racing Exhibit and moved it to a prominent location on the first floor. This move was done thanks to generous sponsorship by the James Graham Brown Foundation and Churchill Downs. While the exhibit has been a part of the Museum since 1993, this move was necessary to pay proper homage to the many African Americans who played an integral role throughout the history of the Kentucky Derby and Thoroughbred racing.On the Black Heritage in Racing Tour, you’ll discover some of the most important African American figures in horse racing - from the jockey only known as Simon to two-time Derby winner Jimmy Winkfield. You’ll also visit locations throughout Churchill Downs while hearing about their incredible legacy. The tour wraps up in the Black Heritage in Racing Exhibit where you’ll learn how African American trainers, horse owners, and jockeys continue to shape the future of racing today.

What do you get when you pour a jigger of Bourbon, add a dash of Thoroughbreds and mix in a Mint Julep cup? The complete Bourbon and Bridles Experience. You’ll start with a tour of historic Churchill Downs to learn why horse racing and Bourbon are a perfect pair. Your guide will share stories of distillery owners who have won the Derby and how some enterprising guests imbibed on Derby day during the Prohibition years.The Kentucky Derby Museum is an official stop on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail. Then enjoy a Bourbon tasting along with an interactive lesson on how to make a signature Mint Julep. You’ll also sample Louisville’s Modjeska candy, named after the actress who attended the third running of the Kentucky Derby in 1877, and who famously took quite a liking to the Mint Julep. The experience includes a take home gift bag with Mint Julep syrup, Modjeska candy, a Derby glass, and more!

Get ready to embark on the most comprehensive tour that the Kentucky Derby Museum has to offer! The Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour guides you through the fabled history, pageantry, and legacy of the Kentucky Derby. You’ll visit some of the most exclusive dining and event spaces at Churchill Downs including Millionaire’s Row, the Stakes Room, and the Turf Club*. Step onto the balconies overlooking the racetrack for incredible views of the Louisville skyline and the iconic Twin Spires™. Then you’ll get an intimate view of Thoroughbreds training for upcoming races from vantage points railside in the Grandstand and on the Backside of the track. Travel through the Infield tunnels to ride between the green-roofed barns of the Backside where legendary Derby winners have been stabled during the season’s racing meets. This vibrant community on “the other side” of the track will be teeming with action and excitement as you see how horses are trained and cared for by teams of skilled horsemen. Finish your tour by returning to the Museum to explore the exhibits and enjoy our immersive 360° film, “The Greatest Race."*Areas are subject to change based on availability.

In this exclusive two-hour experience, you’ll experience the thrill of seeing Thoroughbreds working out at speeds nearing 40 miles per hour along the Backstretch of Churchill Downs. Start your morning by heading under the track to the Infield where Derby revelers have partied since the first running of the Kentucky Derby in 1875! There, you’ll take in panoramic views of the Grandstand, the historic Twin Spires™, and the green-roofed barns where the horses are stabled. Finish your morning on the Backside of the track, where nearly 1400 horses live during the racing and training season.

Experience the thrill of a race day at Churchill Downs! Have a one-of-a-kind experience that takes you to the Backside of the track to view the Thoroughbreds’ morning workout before enjoying a spectacular lunch at one of Churchill Downs’ exclusive dining areas. You’ll be transported under the racetrack and through the famous Infield tunnels to see how trainers and horses alike prepare for “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” Horses warm-up, cool down, and speed along the backstretch as you watch from the viewing platforms used by Derby-winning trainers. Be sure to capture the incredible panoramic views of the Grandstand and historic Twin Spires™!Your guide will share stories of the legendary Derby winners whose names encircle the Courtyard as you return to the Museum. Be immersed in the excitement of Derby Day while viewing our epic 360° film, “The Greatest Race.” Then your Guide will escort you to the Grandstand where your tour will conclude in one of Churchill Downs’ fine dining locations such as the Roses Lounge, Skye Terrace, or even Millionaire’s Row*! Enjoy the delicious Chef’s buffet as you prepare for the Thoroughbred racing experience! Your guide will stay for the first race of the day to share the ins and outs of what you see happening on the track. Then you are free to stay and enjoy an exciting afternoon of racing or return to the Museum to explore two floors of interactive exhibits!*Areas are subject to change based on availability.

Keepsake booklet included for all guestsKick off the excitement of Derby Season railside at the track! Experience the thrilling sound of hooves pounding the dirt as horses and jockeys work out in front of you. You’ll see the world’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, including this year’s Derby and Oaks contenders, race by at speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour. Your tour guide will share the ins and outs of training world-class Thoroughbreds and point out horses that are in the 152nd Run for the Roses. To mark such a memorable experience, you’ll receive a keepsake booklet to help you identify key equipment, trainer saddle pads, and other fun Derby trivia. The Derby Contender Workout Tour is a great tour for horse lovers, but please note that guests will not be able to touch the horses.Prices starting at $20All times are in Eastern Daylight Time

Keepsake booklet included for all guestsNothing compares to visiting the Backside of Churchill Downs in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby! You never know who you may see – a legendary Derby trainer or the next Triple Crown winner.On this guided vehicle tour, you’ll be surrounded by Thoroughbreds, trainers, exercise riders, hotwalkers – everything that brings this vibrant community to life. Your tour guide will also point out the signature green-roofed barns where Thoroughbreds are housed in preparation for the “Run for the Roses.” Be on the lookout for the iconic yellow saddle cloths that adorn this year’s Derby Contenders’ barns/stalls. Have your camera ready for panoramic views of the racetrack, Grandstand, and the historic Twin Spires™. This is a great tour for horse lovers, but please note that guests will not be able to touch the horses or enter the barns.You have the possibility during the 7:00 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. tour slots to see Derby Contenders and other world-class Thoroughbreds training on the track as you stand railside along the backstretch.Prices starting at $65All times are in Eastern Daylight Time

Tour gift bag included for all guestsIn the still of the morning, the thunderous sound of hooves barreling down the track takes your breath away. It’s an experience of a lifetime to witness Derby Legends in the making, and this intimate tour gives you access and insight you’ll never find anywhere else.Spend your morning on the Backside of Churchill Downs watching this year’s Derby Contenders workout from the same viewing platforms as storied Derby trainers. As you take in the sights and sounds, your tour guide will weave in stories of past legends – from Aristides, the very first winner of the Kentucky Derby to Secretariat and his record-breaking Triple Crown win! New for 2026! Join us in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Barbaro’s historic run and how his legacy continues to impact the care of Thoroughbreds today. Celebrate these legends and more as we look back at 152 years of greatness! Before returning to the Museum, you’ll have an opportunity to capture incredible panoramic views of the historic Twin Spires™! Prices starting at $230All times are in Eastern Daylight Time

Tour gift bag included for all guestsYour heart can’t help but skip a beat as the powerful Thoroughbreds come thundering down the stretch! Get an insider’s view of horses on the track with this one-of-a-kind Derby tour.Start your morning railside, along the Homestretch of Churchill Downs, to watch Thoroughbreds working out. Your tour guide will narrate what you’re seeing as the horses race by, give fun Derby insights, and share the history of the track. At the conclusion of the workout, you’ll head through the Infield tunnels to the Backside, where you could see everything from horses cooling down with their hot walkers to a horse getting a bath in the Thoroughbred spa. And be on the lookout for this year’s Derby Contenders!Before returning to the Museum, you’ll have an opportunity to capture incredible panoramic views of the historic Twin Spires™! Prices starting at $180

Opening Day Race Day Experience

When you're done with this experience, you'll be an expert on Kentucky's famous drink - the Mint Julep! You'll be able to brag to your friends that you graduated from Mint Julep University at Kentucky Derby Museum. But this is no stuffy college class. Learn how to make a Mint Julep, and of course, drink it, too. (Cheers!) Learn about the ingredients that make up a julep, find out why we like to "slap" the mint, (yep, it's a thing), and soak up the history of how this beverage became the Kentucky Derby's signature drink. Mix up this cocktail while enjoying a favorite Kentucky dessert – bourbon balls! Take a fun, commemorative picture at the end of class, because you graduated!