April, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kentucky Derby: Limited Infield-Only Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday At Noon

A limited number of Infield-only General Admission tickets for the April 30 Longines Kentucky Oaks and May 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will go on sale at 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/2021-derby-week-tickets.

“The Kentucky Derby experience is synonymous with fun and excitement and we're thrilled to welcome fans back to our Infield,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “We remain committed to relying on the most recent scientific evidence we have surrounding COVID-19, and with Kentucky Derby Week three weeks away, we are encouraged by the favorable trajectory. In addition to a low positivity rate, Kentucky's vaccination efforts have reached approximately 40 percent of adult Kentuckians with every indication that those numbers will continue to rapidly increase over the coming weeks leading into this year's Derby.”

Derby Day Infield-only General Admission tickets, which will not have access to the Frontside of the venue, are $75 if purchased prior to April 18; $80 if purchased between April 19-30; and $85 if purchased on Derby Day. Oaks Day Infield-only General Admission tickets, which will not have access to the Frontside of the venue, are $55 if purchased prior to April 18; $60 if purchased between April 19-29; and $65 if purchased on Oaks Day.

Two-day Infield-only General Admission tickets for both Oaks and Derby are $120 if purchased prior to April 18 or $135 if purchased between April 19-29.

An official program is included with all tickets.

Guests who purchase Infield-only General Admission tickets must enter Churchill Downs through the Infield Admission Gate at Central Avenue and Fourth Street. The Infield-only General Admission tickets will not have access to the Frontside of the venue.

General Admission guests will have access to food and beverage options for purchase at Infield concession stands. Infield guests will also have designated restrooms and wagering windows.

Additional ticket inventory to Oaks and Derby is also available, including uncovered reserved bleacher seating in the First Turn; uncovered reserved box seating for six in the Infield; and First and Second Floor Grandstand reserved seats. All reserved seats include all-inclusive food, non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages.

As previously announced, reserved seats are limited to approximately 40 to 50 percent of seated capacity. General Admission ticket sales will be limited to approximately 25 to 30 percent of Infield capacity.

The 147^th runnings of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks and $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will be held on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, respectively.

Guests with tickets who are unable to attend the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks or other events can utilize the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange, the official fan-to-fan resale marketplace and only authorized resale platform, to resell tickets. The Official Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange allows guests to resell tickets, charge face value or above and guarantee authenticity through Ticketmaster verified tickets.

Notification of the availability of additional tickets to Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be made by way of email and social media. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the Kentucky Derby's email distribution list online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/newsletter-signup and follow @KentuckyDerby on social media to stay updated on any changes to ticket availability.

Those interested in attending Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks can also visit Derby Experiences, the Kentucky Derby's Official Experience Package Partner, to explore a variety of packages combining Derby and Oaks seats with access to exclusive lounges, VIP Fast Access passes, hotel and transportation accommodations and more. Information is available online at www.derbyexperiences.com/kentucky-derby-2021.

Churchill Downs ticket options are available for other popular Derby Week events: Opening Night presented by Budweiser (Saturday, April 24); Dawn at the Downs (Sunday, April 25 and Monday, April 26); Champions Day presented by TwinSpires (Tuesday, April 27); and Thurby presented by Old Forester (Thursday, April 29).

In addition to Kentucky Derby Week, tickets are on sale for the entire 2021 Spring Meet, which covers 38 dates from Saturday, April 24 through Saturday, June 26.

Notable Spring Meet events and dates include Twilight Thursdays (Thursdays, May 6-June 24); Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9); Preakness Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, May 15); Sunday Brunch (Sundays, May 16-June 20); Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser (Saturdays, May 22 and June 12); Stephen Foster Preview Day (Saturday, May 29); Memorial Day (Monday, May 31); Teacher Appreciation Day (Thursday, June 3); Belmont Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, June 5); Flag Day Observance (Sunday, June 13); Father's Day (Sunday, June 20); and Stephen Foster Day/Closing Day (Saturday, June 26).

Churchill Downs will continue to rely on proven health and safety protocols and operate within the guidance of state health officials as well as the CDC. Information regarding Churchill Downs' Health & Safety plan for Kentucky Derby 2021 can be found at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/ticket-options/updates.

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Julien Leparoux To Ride Helium In Kentucky Derby

Jockey Julien Leparoux will be aboard Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, the Daily Racing Form reported Monday. Jose Ferrer rode the colt to victory at Tampa.

Trained by Mark Casse, the 3-year-old son of Ironicus is undefeated in three career starts, including two over the synthetic main track at Woodbine Racecourse last year. Helium provided a 15-1 upset in the Tampa Bay Derby, his first start of 2021, when defeated Hidden Stash (who returned to run fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes) by three quarters of a length.

Helium will ship to Kentucky this week, Casse said.

Out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thundering Emilia, Helium was a $55,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. He is raced by D. J. Stable.

Louisiana-Bred Bind Filly Posts Fastest Time Of Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Under Tack Show

A Louisiana-bred filly by Bind worked an eighth-mile in :10 flat as the fastest time in Monday's under tack show for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park.

The breeze show was held under sunny skies with a steady headwind throughout the day. The sale is set for Wednesday at noon, Central.

Consigned by Pike Racing, agent, Hip 57 was the sixth horse to breeze in the under tack show. The Feb. 27 foal, named Wupkar, is out of the Songandaprayer mare Anne Margaret, who has produced four winners. Two of those winners are stakes-placed, including $346,012 earner Adrianne G.

A single horse worked a quarter-mile, with Hip 113, an Ohio-bred colt by Midshipman, clocking the distance in :24 4/5.

“We had a nice crowd on hand today with more people in attendance than I remember over the past several years,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had some very strong works on the track, despite a pretty solid headwind.”

Videos of the under tack show will be posted later this evening at www.ttasales.com.

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Indiana Grand Donates Old Track Surface Material To Community Project

In preparation for a project on the horizon for Shelby Parks and Recreation, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino delivered two loads of dirt to Blue River Memorial Park Thursday, April 1. The dirt, which was formerly used as racing surface on the track, will become part of the amphitheater area to be constructed at Blue River Memorial Park.

“The amphitheater at this time has no particular time frame,” said Karen Martin, Executive Director of Shelby Parks and Recreation. “It is in our master plan. As we get dirt to create the mound for the audience to sit on, then preparations will get started for the rest.”

Indiana Grand Track Maintenance Team Members Paul Jordon and Doug Boring delivered two truck loads of material to the site of the future amphitheater. The dirt equaled a total of 20 tons.

Once enough material has been collected, Doug Hunt, City of Shelbyville Street Commissioner, will begin forming the dirt into a “U” shape mound that will extend up at least 12 feet high. Once the mound is in place, drainage will be added and a staging area with dressing rooms will be constructed.

“After an extended period of time, the materials we use on the racetrack become less effective and it loses its bounce when the horses travel over it,” said Roy Smith, Track Superintendent. “We take the material off and replace it with a fresh mixture of sand, silt and clay. The stockpile of previously used dirt will be perfect for the creation of the amphitheater.”

Smith and his team are in final preparations for the upcoming 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, which begins Tuesday, April 13. They are working on both the one-mile dirt course as well as the seven-eighths mile turf course, which is currently equipped with turf blankets to strengthen the grass base and speed up the process of growth. Turf racing is set to commence in early May, pending weather conditions.

Live racing in 2021 will be conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. In addition, six all-Quarter Horse racing dates are set on select Saturdays starting June 5 at 10 a.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 beginning at 12 p.m. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.indianagrand.com.

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