We’re now less than six months away from the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby, one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
On the first Saturday in May, more than 100,000 people crowd into Churchill Downs to watch a day full of races, capped by the Derby – the premier horse race in the United States. Millions will be bet on which 3-year-old will cross the wire first and win the coveted garland of roses.
It’s also a great day for people watching as some get decked out in their best suits or dresses and women wear fancy hats. There will also be a distinct smell lingering as those in attendance down a mint julep or two.
For many, a trip to the Kentucky Derby is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, but where does it rank among other “bucket list” events? At BetKentucky.com - your home to the best Kentucky sports betting coverage - we wanted to know what events occurring next year in the United States would people most like to attend. Using Survey Monkey, we polled 1,081 American adults on what event they would most like to go to. Then, we wanted to know what was more important to them, spending money on experiences or saving money. We used a sliding scale from 0-5, with 0 being “spending” and 5 being “saving,” to see where the financial preferences are.
Top 10 Events of 2025
Rank | Event | Total Percentage of Vote |
1 | The Super Bowl | 17.85% |
2 | Comic-Con | 8.88% |
3 | New Year’s Eve Ball Drop NYC | 8.14% |
4 | Mardi-Gras | 6.38% |
5 | Sundance | 6.11% |
T6 | The Masters Tournament | 5.83% |
T6 | Coachella | 5.83% |
8 | The FIFA World Cup | 5.46% |
9 | Lollapalooza | 5.18% |
10 | Kentucky Derby | 4.07% |
Going To The Kentucky Derby
If you want to go to next year’s Kentucky Derby, then you better act fast. Churchill Downs started selling tickets to the Derby and the May 2 Kentucky Oaks on Oct. 24.
The cheapest ticket is to enter the infield, which is a general admission area. That side of the track has a more casual atmosphere, like you might find at a concert festival or an event like Mardi Gras.
The risk is the Louisville weather, as it can be sunny and 80 degrees in early May, or it can be gloomy and in the low 50s. Rain and storms are also not out of the question.
Getting into the infield costs $145, but at that price, you can attend both the Derby and the Oaks.
It gets more expensive on the other side of the track. Standing room-only tickets for both days cost $650. Tickets with seats are even higher, and Churchill Downs offers special packages through DerbyExperiences.com for those interested. Those packages include a seat, although it may not be in a covered area. The tickets for both days start at $1,299 per person and come with food and drink options. There are also hotel rooms available that can be added to a package.
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Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
