LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After two years of work on a $200 million paddock expansion project, Churchill Downs is ready for the 150th Kentucky Derby. 

Just two years ago, the paddock was 5,000 square feet, a similar layout to what it'd been just inside the main gates for decades. Now it will be more than 12,000 square feet, a massive project that'll be debuted ahead of a historic Derby week.

"This is the most transformational project that we have done at Churchill Downs," Churchill Downs spokesperson Darren Rogers said. 

The work to develop the state-of-the-art paddock began well before Kentucky Derby 149, where a temporary paddock took its place. Following Derby 149, that paddock was removed and relocated to the first turn as work began.

IMAGES | Inside Churchill Downs' $200 million paddock expansion before 150th Kentucky Derby

There are four new giant LED screens, a new Woodford Reserve Paddock Club and Club SI, which is lined by Sports Illustrated magazines with Kentucky Derby covers. Both clubs are a mix of vintage and modern, accented with original brick from the late 1800s. 

Visitors will now walk into a paddock with a horseshoe shaped area that surrounds the stalls where Kentucky Derby connections will prepare for the race. Observation decks will allow people to look down where the horses will be paraded on their way to the track. 

"Right when you walk through the paddock gate you are going to see horses saddled beneath the Twin Spires," Rogers said. "The Twin Spires are back in focus, that's very important to us."

More than 3,000 people will be on a tiered, standing room only area and will be able to look down on the horses. 

"This type of paddock delivers a really unique experience for all different types of guests," Rogers said. 

Brick by brick, Churchill Downs is no stranger to construction, having invested nearly $1 billion in capital improvements over the last 15 years. The plan for the paddock project walked a delicate line mixing history from the 1800s with modern touches and technologies.

Kentucky Oaks is Friday, May 3, and Kentucky Derby 150 is Saturday, May 4. The track said popular week-of races like 502sday, Champions Day and Thurby will return along with the 150th running of the Kentucky Oaks and Derby. 

Tickets for the Kentucky Derby are sold out, but people can still buy tickets from resellers if they are willing to pay the price. 

WDRB News will have Derby Day coverage beginning at 6 a.m. on air and online. CLICK HERE to visit our page for all things Derby. 

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