Kentucky Derby 2021 Tickets: How To Buy Seats, Prices, Capacity

Spectators will return to the Kentucky Derby for the first time since 2019, and tickets are still available for the event. Various seating options can be had with the first Triple Crown race of 2021 scheduled to go off in just a few days.

Churchill Downs will limit its reserved seating to 40-50% capacity because of COVID-19 restrictions, in addition to up to 60% capacity for some areas that allow for social distancing. The infield could host up to 15,000 fans, allowing around 45,000 fans in-person for Saturday’s marquee race.

General admission tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. It costs $80 for infield standing room access. The tickets specify that there is no track view or access to seating areas.

Reserved seating options are much more expensive than general admission infield tickets. All-inclusive First Turn and infield reserved seats can be had for just north of $400. It’ll cost you at least $650 to buy all-inclusive reserved and box seating

Even more expensive are the dining hospitality seating options. Depending on the location, those tickets are being sold for anywhere from $1,856 to $6,2500 each.

The 2020 Kentucky Derby was moved to September because of the pandemic. The race was expected to host a limited capacity crowd of around 23,000 people, but the decision was ultimately made to not allow any fans in attendance.

The 2015 Kentucky Derby set a record with more than 170,000 fans in attendance.