Road to the Kentucky Derby Kickoff - General Admission 2026

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Kickoff at Churchill Downs in Louisville is the opening event of the points-based qualification system for the Kentucky Derby. This race day features early prep races on dirt or synthetic surfaces over at least one mile, awarding points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale. It offers a first look at promising two- and three-year-old thoroughbreds beginning their Triple Crown campaigns.

Churchill Downs provides a historic setting for this day of racing. Attendees experience traditional horse-racing elements like the bugler's call and the races themselves, set against the iconic racetrack.