Overview

The Kentucky Derby is one of America’s most extravagant parties as well as one of our most celebrated sporting events. While there is a horse race at the heart of this spectacle, there are many other intriguing traditions. It’s about Fashion, it’s about Bourbon and Horses, Mint Juleps and Riverboats and it’s about time you check it off your Bucket List.

When

Departure: Thursday, April 30, 2020

Return: Sunday, May 3, 2020

Pricing & Inclusions

this tour is currently on WAIT-LIST. For pricing and availability please call our offices.

INCLUSIONS The Kentucky Derby – Reserved Seats - Lower Level | Derby Day Riverboat Race (Belle of Louisville vs. The Mary M. Miller) | Bourbon, Barbecue and Country Music | Louisville Slugger Museum | The Hermitage Thoroughbred Nursery | Lunch at Claudia Sanders Dinner House | Undulata Horse Farm | Derby Hat Boutique | Bourbon & Chocolate Hotel Reception | “Off to the Races” Dinner Party with Kentucky Derby Museum | Three Nights Lodging | Three Hotel Breakfasts | Two Dinners | One Lunch | All Taxes & Tips on these Services | Derby Motor coach Parking | Churchill Downs VIP Fast Access Pass | Professional Tour Manager including Tip

DEPOSIT $450 Per Person due with Reservation

FINAL PAYMENT February 28, 2020

CANCELLATION POLICY $100 of the initial deposit is non-refundable | $450 Per Person Cancellation Penalty will be imposed after January 14, 2020. | Full Penalty will be imposed for any cancellations received after the end of business of February 27, 2020.

TRAVEL INSURANCE Optional Trip Insurance through Travel Insured International. To purchase, call our offices.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

DEPARTURE In the morning you will rendezvous with the rest of the group and the motor coach and we will depart for Louisville. The group will drive through most of the morning and early afternoon, with rest stops along the way, until we arrive in Louisville. In the evening we have a very special party to attend.

Bourbon, Barbecue and Country Music Dinner At the Jeptha Creed Distillery in Shelbyville, a new farm to bottle Distillery, you enjoy an evening on the patio with a Barbecue dinner and live Country Music. There will be dancing and distillery tours plus a bourbon tasting opportunity. This is one of the most modern bourbon distilleries in Kentucky and we have a festive evening planned here as our kick-off event to the Derby.

Friday, May 1, 2020

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM You don’t have to be a baseball fan to love Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. It’s iconic, it’s linked to legends and it is one of Louisville’s best known tourist attractions. This tour is fascinating with interactive exhibits that are fun. Baseball is such a big part of American history and culture that even your customers who don’t think they’re fans will find a connection here.

LUNCH AT CLAUDIA SANDERS DINNER HOUSE Lunch today will be in the banquet room of Claudia Sanders Dinner House. This restaurant is a replica of the elegant, old home opened by Colonel Sanders of KFC fame, in 1959. It was from this very building that Kentucky Fried Chicken grew into a world-wide organization.

UNDULATA FARMS Also included on tour today is a visit to Undulata Farms, a Saddlebred Horse Farm. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places this is where Civil War veteran Harry Weissinger and his sons once bred the great stallion, American Born. This is a private residence and horse training farm, your group will tour the first two floors of the family home, the horse training facility and actually see training in progress. At this time of year it is also possible to see a new foal up close and personal.

DERBY HAT BOUTIQUE All groups will have a chance to visit our Derby Hat Boutique where you can buy hats and accessories for both Men & Women. Having just the right Derby Hat, with the right accessories is a very important part of the Kentucky Derby Experience, you have to dress for the Win, the Place, and The Show.

BOURBON & CHOCOLATE RECEPTION This afternoon you return to your hotel to rest up before tonight’s “Off to the Races Dinner Party,” you will find that gift boxes with a miniature bottle of Evan Williams Bourbon and Chocolate Bourbon Candy are waiting for you. Whether you use the hotel’s breakfast room for a short party or let your travelers take this gift to their rooms. It’s another Bourbon Experience and a Spirit to lift before dinner.

"OFF TO THE RACES" DINNER PARTY This evening’s “Off to the Races” dinner is a feature event as we partner with the Kentucky Derby Museum at a local banquet hall. The meal is a special “Taste of Kentucky” menu. A plated meal of renowned Kentucky favorites complimented with Derby Pie for dessert.

The Derby Museum’s Master of Ceremonies takes over during dinner with Derby Racing fun. We have three pre-recorded horse races that will be projected on the big screen. Each of your group members will have a race program and a stack of play money with which to wager at the row of Betting Windows in the back of the room.

Consider this a warm-up to the big race tomorrow. A practice session, It’s a chance to make few bets, cheer for a favorite and share a few laughs. Your will be rolling in the aisles with fun. When each race is over, there’s time to cash in winnings and make fresh bets before the next race.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

DERBY DAY RIVERBOAT RACES Today’s first event is the Derby Day Riverboat Race. We have chartered both the The Mary M. Miller (replacing the Spirit of Jefferson) and the Belle of Louisville. It doesn’t get any better than this. Once onboard there is complimentary coffee and tea, or start the festivities with a Bloody Mary or Champagne Mimosa from the cash bar.

Once underway we have experts providing a few insider tips on the Derby Race. They will talk about the Horses, how they run in different conditions, who has the post and what does that mean, plus information on the trainers their Derby History and more. You also enjoy a seminar on how to place a real bet at Churchill Downs.

At the end of the “How to Bet” lesson, our two private Sternwheelers will turn downstream and with those big red paddlewheels kicking up a feather trail of whitewater they race each other back to Louisville. We encourage you to place a creative bet or two with your travel partners.

THE 145TH KENTUCKY DERBY - LOWER LEVEL SEATS Next is the highlight of your trip. You have a VIP Fast Access Pass to Churchill Downs and 1st floor Grandstand Seats near the Starting Line. You will be at The Derby all day, enjoy crowd watching, sample a mint julep and place a few bets. This is one of the world’s greatest and most celebrated sporting events, “The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” and you are on hand to experience it all.

The Kentucky Derby is America’s most extravagant springtime sports party, and one of our most celebrated events. While there is a horse race at the heart of this spectacle, there are many other intriguing aspects within this Louisville tradition. It is a festival and fashion show, it’s a Parade and a Race, it’s Mint Juleps and Riverboats; it’s about Horses and it’s about time you see it.

MOTOR COACH RESERVED PARKING PERMIT Also included in this tour is a premium motor coach parking, but it is still a long walk. Please be advised all patrons must be capable of walking a decent distance in order to fully enjoy this trip.

Sunday, May 3, 2020

DEPARTURE DAY This morning, with hat boxes and suitcases loaded, the group departs for home with another event checked off the Bucket List.