Louisville comes alive every year on the first Saturday of May to celebrate the greatest two minutes in sports - the Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously held sporting event in North America.

        If you plan to mingle with people who like to call themselves Kentucky Colonels, wash down burgoo (some call it “roadkill stew”) with mint juleps, dress up like you're auditioning for a postmodern Gone with The Wind, and talk about a particular horse as if it's your only child - be sure to do it right. Here are some tips to get you prepared.

At the Kentucky Oaks, the race on Friday preceding the Derby, were Dorothy Vittitow (left), Penny Brooks, Mary Farrell and Sheila Walters, all from Louisville. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

       

What to wear, take
        Proper Derby duds are a must. Women, wear a hat. This is called the Derby, after all. Aside from that, men and women should don their Sunday best and dress like it's springtime, even if it's 40 degrees.

        Anything, including wearing nothing at all, goes for the infield. The infield is the grassy area inside the racing track itself, where the only tickets still available are sold for $40 apiece the day of the race. Picnic baskets, coolers and chairs are welcome in the infield. Umbrellas, glass bottles and alcohol are prohibited. Louisville police are expert at detecting alcohol-smuggling apparatus.

        Speaking of alcohol — the mint juleps at the Derby are sold in commemorative Derby glasses, which are glass, not plastic. Derby veterans know to push the sprig of fresh mint to the side of the julep cup before taking a sip — otherwise, it may go up your nose. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested no matter where you plan to spend your day at the track. Remember, this is a long day. While the track opens early in the morning, the post time this year is later — The Kentucky Derby itself is not run until 6:07 p.m., after a day of lesser races winds up.

        And don't forget sunscreen, sunglasses and binoculars — the weather is predicted to be moderate, but sunny.

        Be aware of pickpockets who prey on people in big crowds.
       

How to get tickets
        They get passed down from generation to generation or go to the rich and beautiful. If you don't have deep pockets and don't mind hanging out with the $2 bettor, there is an option.

THE DIRT ON THE DERBY

Time: Gates open at 8 a.m. First post will be at 11:30 a.m.; Derby post will be about 6:07 p.m.     TV: NBC (Channel 5) will begin its Derby coverage at 5 p.m. This is the first time in 26 years the race has not been on ABC.     Radio: WAOZ-AM (1360) “The Homer”     Weather: Partly cloudy skies. High of 78; 10 percent chance of rain.     Betting: Wagers accepted at Turfway Park and River Downs.     Web pages: Churchill Downs; Kentucky Derby Festival

        An unlimited general admission ticket is $40 and can be purchased at the track. It gets you access to the first-floor paddock area and the infield.

        For general admission tickets, get to the track at 8 a.m. to stake out a good location for the rest of the day. No seating or access to the track is available, and you might never see a horse. Most race fans arrive no later than noon.

        Churchill Downs seats 48,500 people, but the largest Derby Day crowd was recorded in 1974 when 163,628 turned out for the 100th running. Today, expect 140,000 to cram into the track.
       

Directions and parking
        Louisville is a two-hour trip down Interstate 71. Once in Louisville, take Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) west to Exit 10 — Third Street/Southern Parkway. Go north on Southern Parkway. Follow the signs to the track.

Complete coverage at Cincinnati.com

        Churchill Downs is in south-central Louisville, about three miles from downtown and two miles from the airport. Expect long traffic delays as you approach the track. Many streets are closed, while other are converted to one-way.

        Louisville police recommend getting off the Interstate at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, parking at Freedom Hall and taking a shuttle bus to the track. For more information on the shuttle, call (502) 585-1234.

        Parking and shuttle service are also available from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on the University of Louisville campus. Not to be confused with the old Cardinal Stadium, the Papa John's stadium can be reached by taking the Crittenden Drive exit. It's a short walk from Churchill Downs.

        Public parking is not available on track grounds for the Derby.
       

Accommodations and events
        Need a place to crash for the night? Expect to find the “no vacancy” sign hanging at most hotels. If you find a room, expect the normal rate to have doubled for Derby weekend.

        Finding a table at a restaurant might be as challenging.

        While in town, the new $60 million Waterfront Park is worth checking out. During the last several years, rail and scrap yards lining the riverfront have been transformed into a park featuring a 13-mile river walk, a great lawn and the Louisville Slugger Baseball Stadium, home to the Riverbats, the Cincinnati Reds AAA affiliate. The Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum is nearby and worth a visit.

        The Greater Louisville Information Center at (888) 584-6383 can help out-of-town guests with hotel rooms and dining suggestions.

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