The general admission and historic walking tour is a great start and is fairly economical. Be sure to watch the Greatest Race movie. It is one of the my favorite parts of my visit. I took the behind the scenes tour and really enjoyed seeing Millionaires Row and Mansion areas. The training and backside tours were not offered on my visit because it was offseason. I would think the horse-involved tours would be really interesting. Like you, I am not a big horse racing enthusiast. I stopped in because I was in town and looking for something to do. After my tour I have started to tentatively plan for attending the Derby. I feel like I have to be part of it at some point. I hope you have a great experience here.

Yes, even on race days, our historic walking tour still goes out to the track! If you're lucky, you might be able to catch a race, but you do have to stay with the tour group while on Churchill Downs' property. We are closed on Thurby, Oaks and Derby, and no tours go out those days.

DeeDee, we are excited for your trip! Tickets are available for purchase now for our Golf Cart Tours in 2020, but you certainly can wait a bit to book. Thank you for planning a trip to our Museum!

Hi, horses work out early mornings, we're talkin' 5am! Our Museum opens at 8am, and if you take our first walking tour of the day, which goes out to the track, you have a very good chance of seeing horses exercising.

Yes I think so the movie is great and the tour guides are very informative also the exhibits are good too

Highly recommend the outdoor and indoor tour. The movie is great, museum probably an hour not including movie but make sure people know there is a second floor part to the museum. Several of our friends totally missed this part of the museum. Outside tour portion was an hour plus, very worthwhile, if you go in am you can see them training the horses.

4th street live has a lot of good restaurants. Steaks fish Mexican BBQ Hard Rock. It’s about 10 minutes from Churchill Downs.

Not nearby but I can definitely recommend downtown Louisville - so many choices. Mussels and Burger Bar is fabulous. And so is Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen. Fine for young people too. Very casual. Next visit I hope to make it to the Brown Hotel for the famous Hot Brown.

The spring meet doesn't open until April. You can check Churchill Downs' website for race dates!

If you are coming through Louisville and have never beem to the backside of this remarkable facility, yes, by all means, take the backside tour. And, go as early as possible as you may get a chance to see some of the Thoroughbreds working that day. I am sure they will take you to the barn area of Bob Baffert where you may view the many signs showing past feats of his horses. West Coast, one of his excellent older Thoroughbreds is already on the grounds in anticipation of a race on Stephen Foster Fay and you may see him getting a bath or working.They may be getting smaller with each addition to Churchill Downs, but one of the most awesome sights of this legendary racetrack are the Twin Spires, be sure to tke a few snapshots from the backside. They are filled with the histry of this famous racetrack. Be sure to try some of the question games to test your knowledge of the sport and don't be embarrassed to try a ride on horses inside the museum that give yu the feeling of being in a race. And, if you have time, not affiliated with the museum but a museum in itself, go across the street from the infield sign and visit Wagner's Pharmacy. Look at all the pinning jockey used to dine on the vegetable soup there. It is home cooking and a local hangout. p hotos on the walls; this has been seen in several movies such as "Seabiscuit" and I believe "Secretariat". If you have time, grab a bite to eat. Calvin Borel, three time Derby w