Kentucky Derby Fun Starts with Barn and Backside Tour
Go behind the scenes on the Barn and Backside Tour at Churchill Downs for some genuine Kentucky Derby fun. The Barn and Backside Tour not only makes the Kentucky Derby fun list, but it also can be enjoyed for nine months of the year.
Offered through the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Barn and Backside Tour operates from March 15 through November 30. Hour-long tours are scheduled throughout the day Mondays through Saturdays, with three tours available on Sundays.
The tour gives visitors an up-close look at the day-to-day workings at Churchill Downs, where Kentucky Derby legends are made. Watch from the rail as horses complete their morning workouts and take a stroll through the high-security barn area, where thoroughbred racing champions are stalled and cared for.
Schedule Changes for Derby Week 2011
Walking and van tours are scheduled for Derby week. Beginning Sunday, May 1, van tours will be offered at 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m. From Monday, May 2, through Thursday, May 5, van and walking tours will be offered at 7, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Van tours will also be offered at 11:30 a.m. and at 1 and 2 p.m.
Special Day After-Derby Backside Tour 2011
The day after the Kentucky Derby, experience the excitement at Churchill Downs by taking a special Barn and Backside Tour. On this tour, guests might get a firsthand glimpse of the Derby winner, although it’s not guaranteed. Tour guides make every effort to drive by the barn where the winning horse is stabled. The day after Derby, activity peaks in Churchill Downs’ barns, where more than 1,400 horses are stabled for the race meets.
The special Barn and Backside Tour will be offered Sunday, May 8, at 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m., and at 1 and 2:30 p.m. The cost of admission is $30, plus admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum. No discounts apply.
Advance reservations are highly recommended for Derby Week, according to Wendy Treinen, communications director at the Kentucky Derby Museum. To make a reservation, call 502-637-1111, Ext. 220.
Posted on Mar 16, 2011 by Bobbi Buchanan
