April 30, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Beds aren’t for sleeping during Derby Week, they’re for racing! On Monday, May 1, beds on wheels will hit the racetrack during the Samtec Great Bed Races. Nearly 40 teams are on tap to compete in a race around a figure-eight course inside Broadbent Arena at the Kentucky Exposition Center during this annual Derby Festival tradition.

The theme of the 34th annual event is “Through the Decades,” and competitors are encouraged to decorate their beds and wear costumes that draw inspiration from movies, music, fashion, television and sports.

The dormitory area will be staged outside Broadbent Arena. Bed racing fans are invited to come out early at 4 p.m. and join the tailgate party. The participating teams will have an opportunity to showcase their costumes and bed in a pre-race parade around the racing surface, beginning at 6 p.m. The first heat begins at 7 p.m.  Admission is a 2023 Pegasus Pin (Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $12).

The races feature two 600-feet divisions – the Fun Division and the Champions Division. Teams also compete for prizes for fastest times and most outrageous costumes and decorations. Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the three fastest times, as well as awards for the “Cone Eater,” “Best Decorated Bed,” and “Most Entertaining.”

The Great Bed Races are sponsored by Samtec. Contributing Sponsors: Drexel Metals, Kentucky Venues and Texas Roadhouse. Media Sponsor: Classic Rock 107.7. The Samtec Great Bed Races are broadcast live on WAVE.