And they're off! Tickets on sale for Kentucky Derby 150 and bet on paying for the experience

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Tickets for Kentucky Derby 150 go on sale Friday at noon, and Churchill Downs is already preparing for the first Saturday in May.

If you want to see the race in person, there are a variety of general admission options and packages depending on your budget.

General admission tickets for the infield are $80 for Derby Day and $60 for Kentucky Oaks Day. Infield tickets for both days are $130 per person. Remember those tickets don't include a seat, food or drink, but you get to mingle with some of the most colorful characters at the track.

Ongoing renovations to Churchill Downs are scheduled to be complete for Derby 150, so general admission tickets for the new paddock area will be available. Tickets are sold as a 2-day package for both Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby starting at $693 person, but that does include all-inclusive food and drink. Off-site parking is available at the Kentucky Expo Center with a complimentary shuttle.

There is also a general admission option for the Infield Final Turn near the starting gate across from the Grandstand. Tickets are $275. Concessions are available along with upgraded restrooms.

If you want a little more elevated experience, outdoor seating in the Grandstand bleachers, Clubhouse boxes and Turf bleachers start between $650 and $850 per person with food and drink included.

First Turn reserved seats and Grandstand box seats start at between $1,495 and $1,617.

The uncovered Homestretch Club reserved seating starts at $2,595, but it does include access to a private temperature-controlled club on the first level of the Grandstand. The club includes places to wager, a Chef's Table buffet and what Churchill Downs said is the longest bar in Kentucky.

For Derby fans ready to spend cash for a VIP experience, the sky is the limit. The new Champions Balcony and Plaza Balcony are part of the new frontside renovations to the paddock at Churchill Downs. Both offer amazing views Derby week starting at $1,775 per person.

To take the racing experience up a notch, the Silks Balcony and Loge has covered seating and box seats starting at $3,650 per person. The members-only Turf Club Balcony and Terrace has a premium dining space and party atmosphere starting at $3,535 per person.

The 1895 Club and Enclosure, named for the year the iconic Twin Spires were built, is a luxury space with views into the Paddock stalls and the Paddock Runway. For tickets starting at $7,500 a person, there is a curated Chef's Table Buffet, cocktail service, all food and drink included and on-site parking.

The Woodford Reserved Paddock Club & Enclosure includes a private wine and bourbon cellar plus cocktail service, indoor and outdoor covered tables and access to on-site parking. Prices aren't listed, but there is a "luxury concierge" that can help work out the details.

Spires Terrace & Suites are definitely for high-rollers ready to spend Oaks and Derby Days in luxury. The private area gives views of both the track and the newly-renovated Paddock from the Third Floor. No prices are given on the Churchill Downs website for the tickets that include an upscale food and beverage menu, concierge service from the gate to reserved seats, and a full-time staff to help with anything guests need. Oh, and parking is included on-site.

If you're interested in exploring the new seating options at Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby week, click here. Here's a link to Ticketmaster to purchase tickets, click here.

The Kentucky Derby 150, sponsored by Woodford Reserve, is Saturday, May 4, 2024, at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Copyright 2023. WDRB Media. All rights reserved.