Join us at Churchill Downs for the most electric two minutes in sport as you experience the stylish Kentucky Derby the way it was meant to be seen – up close and personal. See the sweat glistening on the shoulders of thoroughbred giants, sip mint juleps in the prestigious clubhouse and attend the hottest celebrity-filled parties in town.
Imagine...
The wind is still, the sun is shining and the subtle scent of mint perfume is the air... Welcome the legendary Kentucky Derby. The hypnotic drawl and extravagant hats of the Southern aristocracy lulls one into a dreamlike trance, until suddenly the spell is broken as 20 of the fastest horses in the world burst out of the gates. A mighty roar erupts from the crowd as 80 hoofs carrying up to a half-ton of thoroughbred muscle pound around a 1 ¼ mile dirt track over the space of roughly 90 seconds in pursuit of the single most coveted trophy in horse racing.

Meet your driver for a private transfer.

The Pegasus Parade is one of the largest parades in the United States, and the oldest Kentucky Derby Festival event. Held annually on the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby, the parade runs down Broadway from Campbell to 9th Street. Every year festival organizers recruit talented individuals, schools and businesses to contribute magnificent floats, marching bands, and inflatable cartoon characters to dazzle the crowds. The event starts in the afternoon.

 Enjoy a welcome reception  at Halt House Hotel, featuring live entertainment and hors d'oeuvres.

Overlooking the Ohio River and downtown Louisville, Galt House Hotel and Suites is at the waterfront, about two blocks from the Kentucky International Convention Center, and approximately six miles from Louisville International Airport. The hotel's two 25 story towers offer area views. A skywalk connects the towers to the Kentucky International Convention Center. The Galt House Hotel & Suites towers are linked by the Conservatory, a glass domed space. Galt House Hotel, the largest hotel in Kentucky offers a wide array of well-appointed lodging options with 1290 guest rooms, including 650 suites. The hotel services and amenities range from a state-of-the-art rooftop fitness center, in-room safes, security, seven restaurants and lounges, massages, valet parking and many more services and amenities that will make your stay feel as if you were in the comfort of your home. Galt House Hotel has a health club, an outdoor pool, a steam room, and a fitness facility.

Overnight at Galt House (3*).

The Kentucky Oaks event is as old as the “Run for the Roses” but features fillies and lilies and lots of things women love. The Kentucky Oaks is famous for Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville. Known as the “Lilies for the Fillies”, the winner receives a large garland of lilies and silver Kentucky Oaks Trophy. With a chilled mint julep in your hand, you will bask in the unforgettable atmosphere with beautiful ladies wearing fancy hats juxaposed by horses charging towards their stake to victory.

Tonight we recommend drinks and dinner at Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge, which fuses a swanky environment with an innovative menu in a non-intimidating way. Taking cues from the hipster handbook, the lounge capitalizes on slick minimalism with its use of blond and dark-wood fixtures, flat-screen TV’s, a double-decker fireplace, sleek red-tiled pillars, and a back-lit bar that pays homage to all of Kentucky’s bourbons. The menu demonstrates a strong Asian influence paired with local ingredients, and dishes range from Black-skillet-seared scallops to “naked” lobster ravioli and grilled double-cut New Zealand lamb chops paired with a basil-mint pesto and polenta cake.

Overnight at Galt House (3*).

Welcome to Kentucky Derby! Enjoy the parade of hats on display. From the fantastic to the sublime the quirky to the extravagant, there are no rules or limits. The more refined and elegant ladies sport classy, fashionable styles in the clubhouse and paddock, while the eccentric and downright outrageous headgear is reserved for the infield. Sit back and watch the action until the moment of the race, when an audience of over 150,000 suddenly falls silent in hushed anticipation of the starting bell. After the adrenaline-rush of watching the winner cross the finish line right before your eyes, take some time to enjoy the post-race scene before returning to our hotel.

Overnight at Galt House (3*).

For more than 200 years, Kentucky’s legendary distilleries have crafted the world’s finest Bourbons, using secret recipes and a time-honored process passed down from generation to generation. 

Discover the art and science of the Master Distiller…savor the distinct, mellow flavor…and see how Kentucky’s perfect natural mix of weather and pure limestone water produces the classic taste and deep amber color.  You will visit distilleries like Maker’s Mark and Heaven Hill (Actual distillery locations subject to change).  During your tour, a tasting of bourbons will be served.

Overnight at Galt House (3*).

Meet your driver for a private transfer.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).