02/09/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL RACES OVER 50 PERCENT CAPACITY

SPECIAL VALENTINE’S PROMOTION KICKS OFF TODAY February 9, 2024, Louisville, KY. – Spots are filling up fast for Kentucky’s largest day of road racing! Registration for the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon, set for Saturday, April 27, 2024, has reached more than 50 percent capacity. The cap for both races combined is 12,000 participants. Runners […]

02/08/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL & PNC TO OFFER FREE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CYCLISTS

FIRST 250 REGISTRANTS RECEIVE FREE SHIRT February 8, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Need help getting in cycling shape? The Kentucky Derby Festival and PNC are offering FREE training for cyclists of all experience levels. The six-week PNC Tour de Lou Training Program, produced by the Louisville Bicycle Club, returns this year with training options to […]

02/02/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2024 OFFICIAL POSTER & MERCHANDISE

FANS CAN ORDER ONLINE NOW AND RECEIVE SPECIAL DISCOUNT February 2, 2024, Louisville, KY. –  Hot off the presses! A sign that spring and the Kentucky Derby Festival are just around the corner was unveiled  this morning as the Festival’s 2024 Official Poster rolled off the presses at Louisville’s Welch Printing. Spring style was also […]

01/29/24 – CHURCHILL DOWNS PARTNERS WITH DERBY FESTIVAL TO OFFER FREE SEATING AT 2024 PARADE

69th EVENT TO CELEBRATE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY January 29, 2024. Louisville, KY. – You won’t need tickets to this year’s Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade to have a prime viewing spot! Churchill Downs is sponsoring all general admission bleacher seating for this year’s event. More than 3,000 seats along the route from Jackson to 9th […]

01/25/24 – FINAL CALL TO BE DERBY FESTIVAL’S 2024 ‘DERBY BURGER’ CHAMPION

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ANNUAL CHALLENGE IS JANUARY 31 January 25, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Calling all grill masters and burger enthusiasts! The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Beef Council are searching for the next ‘Derby Burger’ Champion and you have until next week to submit your burger recipes for a chance to win. […]

01/24/24 – FORMER ATLANTA BRAVES BASEBALL PLAYER CREATES 2024 OFFICIAL DERBY FESTIVAL POSTER

POSTER AND MERCHANDISE LINE TO BE UNVEILED NEXT WEEK January 24, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival has hit a home run with its 2024 Official Poster Artist! Louisville artist and former professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, Richard Sullivan, has been selected as the Festival’s Official Poster artist for the 2024 […]

01/16/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL & KENTUCKY LOTTERY SEARCHING FOR 2024 THUNDERNATOR

WINNER WILL BE OFFICIAL THUNDERNATOR OF FIREWORKS SHOW January 16, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Your lottery tickets could help you win big at this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival! The Derby Festival and Kentucky Lottery are teaming up once again to give away an unforgettable Derby Festival experience this spring. One lucky winner will be named […]

01/08/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL INTRODUCES 2024 ROYAL COURT

January 8, 2024. Louisville, KY. – It was a royal morning in Louisville as the Kentucky Derby Festival introduced its 2024 Royal Court during an event at Dillard’s in Mall St. Matthews. Five young women have been selected to serve as Princesses for this year’s Festival and will serve as official ambassadors of the city, […]

12/20/23 – COURSE MAP FOR 2024 GE APPLIANCES mini & MARATHON RELEASED

2024 MARATHON RETURNS TO SOUTH LOUISVILLE December 20, 2023, Louisville, KY. –  The course is set for the 2024 GE Appliances miniMarathon & Marathon. The Kentucky Derby Festival is sharing the final race map to help participants prepare for Kentucky’s largest day of road racing on April 27, 2024. For the first time since 2019, […]

12/06/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2024 PEGASUS PIN

DESIGN CELEBRATES 150th KENTUCKY DERBY December 6, 2023, Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival wants the community to “Pin the Town Derby” next spring! The Derby Festival is releasing its 2024 Pegasus Pin design this week as part of the countdown to the 150th Kentucky Derby. The Festival collaborated with Churchill Downs on the […]

12/4/2023 – APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2024 PEGASUS PARADE

SUNDAY PARADE TO CELEBRATE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY December 4, 2023. Louisville, KY. – If you’ve ever wanted to participate in the Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual parade, this could be your chance! Applications are now open for the 2024 Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade. The parade returns to Broadway on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3 […]

11/14/23 – ALL FINISHERS OF 2024 GE APPLIANCES miniMarathon & MARATHON TO RECEIVE A ROSE

COURSES FOR BOTH RACES MOVE BACK TO KENTUCKY November 14, 2023, Louisville, KY. – More than just horses will be running for roses next spring! For the first time, every participant of the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon will receive a rose after crossing the Finish Line at the race on Saturday, April 27, 2024. […]

11/10/23 – TRAINING PROGRAM FOR GE APPLIANCES miniMARATHON & MARATHON OPENS NEXT WEEK

SEE SNEAK PEEK OF 2024 RACE MEDAL & COURSE AT KICK-OFF EVENT November 10, 2023, Louisville, KY. – Go the distance! The Kentucky Derby Festival and Norton Sports Health are ready to put a little prep in your step with their annual Training Program for the 2024 GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon. The FREE 15-week […]

10/26/23 – TICKETS FOR ALL 2024 DERBY FESTIVAL EVENTS ON SALE TOMORROW

October 26, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Time to start planning for Spring! Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 27, tickets for all 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival events will go on sale. This marks the first time tickets have gone on sale this early. “We know Derby Festival fans like to plan ahead, so we’re […]

10/24/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR 2024 EVENTS

U.S. BANK NEW SPONSOR OF ESSENTIAL PROGRAM October 24, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Every Spring the Kentucky Derby Festival utilizes thousands of volunteers to help produce its more than 70 events. Nearly 4,000 volunteers are needed annually to help with everything from selling Pegasus Pins to supporting runners after they cross the Finish Line at […]

10/20/23 – ALL DERBY FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 27

October 20, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Get your tickets! For the first time, Kentucky Derby Festival event tickets are going on sale earlier than ever before. Tickets for all 2024 Festival events will be available for purchase one week from today on Friday, October 27, starting at 10 a.m. “We know Derby Festival fans like […]

10/17/23 – WIN DERBY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE VALUED AT MORE THAN $7,000

FESTIVAL’S FOUNDATION SELLING EXCLUSIVE GOLDEN TICKET October 17, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Get your Golden Tickets! Taking a cue from Willy Wonka, the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation is selling a Golden Ticket for the 2024 Festival. The lucky winner and a guest will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime Derby Festival experience, including VIP tickets to […]

10/10/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL RECEIVES NINE AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

October 10, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival was recognized internationally for its excellence in the festivals and events industry during the International Festivals & Events Association’s (IFEA) annual Convention, Expo & Retreat in McAllen, Texas. The Festival won nine awards in various categories for promotions, multimedia, advertising campaigns and merchandise, including winning […]

09/05/23 – REGISTRATION OPENS THIS WEEK FOR GE APPLIANCES miniMARATHON & MARATHON

SPECIAL RACE PROMOTION STARTS SEPT. 7 September 5, 2023, Louisville, KY. – Ready, set, register! Registration for Kentucky’s largest day of road racing opens this week – Thursday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon is set for Saturday, April 27, 2024. The annual event attracts an average […]

08/31/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR 2024 ROYALTY

APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 ROYAL COURT OPEN SEPT. 5 August 31, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The search is on for new Kentucky Derby Festival royalty! Young women from Kentucky or Southern Indiana who are full-time college students (in at least their 2nd year) are eligible. Applications open Tuesday, Sept. 5, and the deadline to submit for […]