Departing April 29th – Return May 4th 2014 6 days / 5 nights
So much more than a horse race, it’s the original springtime sports party of extravagance, tradition, and
celebrity! Every year in attendance are some of the biggest names in Hollywood, as well as the music and
sports world, as everyone who’s anyone descends upon Churchill Downs and the historic Twin Spires for the
Run for the Roses. Whatever your reason for attending, whether it be the star sightings, the intricacies of the
fashion, the refreshing mint julep, or all of the above, the Derby is unlike any other sporting event in the world!
General Information
For your pleasure we offer a choice of 3 packages each with 2 options – type of accommodation and seat
location. All packages depart and return on the same days. They vary in price and are available in boxes of for
6 friends to attend. All packages are based on either 1st Floor or 3rd Floor Club House Seating which offer great
views.
Due to the high demand, we require full
payment at the time of booking so all
arrangements can be secured immediately
and we highly recommend cancellation
insurance for any package.
Credit Card or check would be accepted
for payment
We enclose a map of Churchill Downs so you can see where each section is located in proximity to the
‘Winning Post’….Packages are named Bronze, Silver and Gold for accommodations – Bronze being the least
expensive.
First Floor Clubhouse Seating
Sections 116 to 118 are some of the most sought after seating options at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby
and Oaks days! These seats are right near the finish line with a great view of the tote board, and give you fast
access to the Paddock area! These are the seats you need if you want to feel the rush of excitement as the
horses blow through the finish line! Seats in these sections are known as "Box Seating", as each box is set up
to accommodate six ticket holders. This section is located on the first floor and the seats are folding style with
backs. The ticket holder gains access to all the amenities of the 1st floor clubhouse, such as the paddock area
to view the horses prior to each race, and easy access to betting windows, concessions, and restrooms.
Sections 116 to 118 offer a fantastic look at the horses as they cross the finish line! Box seats offer a fantastic
social atmosphere, and can be a great spot to take pictures from.
Third Floor Clubhouse Seating
Seats in sections 316 and 317 are known as "Clubhouse Box Seats", with each box accommodating six ticket
holders. This section has folding chair seats. Patrons with this ticket have access to nicer amenities that go
with the third floor clubhouse such as smaller betting lines, more diverse concessions, and cleaner restrooms.
Ticket holders will also have access to other areas of the track, such as the Churchill Downs gift shop and the
Paddock area which is great for socializing! Sections 316 and 317 offer a fantastic view of the finish line and
it's possible you will be sitting near celebrities, as well as top thoroughbred owners and trainers! This section is
a top notch location and a highly sought after ticket for the Kentucky Derby!
Drury Inn and Suites – Louisville, KY (Bronze Package)
Stay at the Louisville Drury and you can enjoy some of our finest inventions: a free Hot Breakfast that includes
Belgian waffles, sausage, scrambled eggs and many more delicious items; free wireless Internet access; and
the free 5:30 Kickback® with hot food and cold beverages. But enough with our innovation—let’s talk about
what other Louisville creations the city has to offer…
Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby, is a great place to visit even when the world famous race isn’t
in town—as is the Kentucky Derby museum next door. Another museum that’s definitely worth the trip is the
Louisville Slugger Museum, home of the world’s largest baseball bat. For families with kids, the Louisville Zoo
will provide plenty of ‘all ages’ entertainment. But whatever you decide to do during your stay, remember that
we have comfortable rooms and lots of free amenities waiting for you back at the Drury Inn & Suites of
Louisville.
Your Bronze Tour Package includes:









(Boxes of 6 people race days)
Air from Rapid City to Kentucky & return (includes 1 checked bag – 50lbs or less)
Meet n’ Greet arrival & departure airport
5 nights’ Accommodations - Check In 30th April 2014 - Check Out: 5th May 2014
Breakfast every morning
Transportation to and from Churchill Downs for both the Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby
Race Day Tickets as booked for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby
Race Ticket Lanyards - Kentucky Derby Gift Bag
Tour to Kentucky Horse Farm
$3,995 per person based on double occupancy (Section 116-118)
$4,495 per person based on double occupancy (Section 319-321)
Griffin Gate Marriot Resort & Spa – Lexington, KY (Silver Package)
The Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Resort & Spa (Silver Package)
The Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Resort & Spa is located in beautiful Bluegrass Country. The hotel is the
area’s finest example when it comes to Southern hospitality & resort accommodations. Located just over 1
hour from Churchill Downs it provides a relaxing atmosphere and ideal base for the Kentucky Derby.
Guest rooms feature Tempur-Pedic mattresses, Marriott Plug-In Technology, flat screen TVs, not to mention
luxurious use of furniture and decor. For fitness and recreation, the hotel features a fully-equipped fitness
center, indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool, whirlpool, and a Sport Court outside. For ultimate relaxation, the
hotel has an onsite spa where many treatments are available.
Your Silver Tour Package includes:









(Boxes of 6 people race days)
Air from Rapid City to Kentucky & return (includes 1 checked bag – 50lbs or less)
Meet n’ Greet arrival & departure airport
5 nights’ Accommodations - Check In 30th April 2014 - Check Out: 5th May 2014
Breakfast every morning
Transportation to and from Churchill Downs for both the Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby
Race Day Tickets as booked for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby
Race Ticket Lanyards - Kentucky Derby Gift Bag
Tour to Kentucky Horse Farm
$4,795 per person based on double occupancy (Section 116-118)
$5,995 per person based on double occupancy (Section 316-317)
The Seelbach Hilton, Downtown Louisville, KY (Gold Package)
The Seelbach Hilton Hotel (Gold Package)
A stay at The Seelbach Hilton Hotel will never be described as ordinary. Appearing on the National Register
of Historical Places, this 4-diamond luxury hotel is considered the premiere hotel in the state of Kentucky. Built
in 1905, it is considered a landmark to "the golden era" with its grand ambiance inspiring author F. Scott
Fitzgerald to use The Seelbach as a backdrop for Tom and Daisy Buchanan's wedding in The Great Gatsby.
Your Gold Tour Package includes:








(Boxes of 6 people race days)
Air from Rapid City to Kentucky & return (includes 1 checked bag – 50lbs or less)
Meet n’ Greet arrival & departure airport
5 nights’ Accommodations - Check In 30th April 2014 - Check Out: 5th May 2014
Breakfast every morning
Transportation to and from Churchill Downs for both the Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby
Race Day Tickets as booked for Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby
Race Ticket Lanyards - Kentucky Derby Gift Bag
$5,995 per person based on double occupancy (Section 116-118)
$6,995 per person based on double occupancy (Section 316-317)
Itinerary:
Day 1 – Wednesday April 30th 2014
This morning we depart from Rapid City Regional Airport for our journey to Kentucky. On arrival you will meet
your ABS Representative at the baggage belt for transfer to your chosen hotel.
Overnight Kentucky
Day 2 – Thursday May 1st 2014
After breakfast it’s time to head out to the Kentucky Horse Park. Your entrance ticket includes admission to the
world-renowned International Museum of the Horse, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the American
Saddlebred Museum - the Showplace for Saddlebreds, a Horse-Drawn Tour and equine presentations
throughout the day. Some shows and/or special events may require a separate or additional charge. Food
concessions are available on park grounds.
Overnight your chosen Hotel
Day 3 – Friday May 2nd 2014 - The 2014 Oaks
The first of two fantastic race days… There are some 12 races today commencing at 10.30am and then pretty
much every 30 to 45 minutes thereafter. As we have our own private transportation we can leave the hotel at a
time which suits our own small group. The post time for the Kentucky Oaks is 5.45pm with the last race of the
day being 6.21pm.
The Oaks is the annual race for Thoroughbred fillies is one of the most popular horse-races in the American
horse-racing society, and has been thoroughly entertaining enthusiasts ever since it started in 1875. Holders of
Kentucky Oaks tickets are in for some heart-stopping action, showcasing some of the most powerful
racehorses in the world. The Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks are the oldest continuously contested
sporting events in history; they are also the only race horses to be held at the site where they were originally
conceived. You will get to experience the thrill of watching three-year old Thoroughbred fillies as they run the
length of the race, which covers 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs.
Overnight your chosen Hotel
Day 4 – Saturday May 3rd 2014 - The 2014 Kentucky Derby
Once again we choose our own schedule to get to Churchill Downs – The first race of the day is 10.30am
followed by 12 more races. The post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6.24pm. The Kentucky Derby is a stakes
race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, staged yearly in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May.
The race, known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate time length, is the first leg of
the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the United States. It typically draws around 155,000 fans. The
Kentucky Derby is one of the crown jewels of the elusive Triple Crown which includes the Belmont Stakes and
the Preakness Stakes. For over 125 years the Kentucky Derby has been everyone's race - from the dapper
men and beautiful women, all in hats and sipping on frosty mint juleps.
Overnight your chosen hotel
Day 5 – Sunday May 4th 2014
Two tours without which no visit to Louisville would be complete – a tour of the Louisville Slugger Factory and
Museum & The Jim Beam American Stillhouse. First we visit the Louisville Slugger Factory…
Followed by a mid-afternoon of the Jim Beam American Stillhouse… The Jim Beam American Stillhouse has
got more than a few picturesque sights. The building itself is a replica of a 1940’s stillhouse, along with the
actual staircase from our original historic stillhouse. Then there’s the rack houses, limestone water wells,
bottling lines, bourbon tasting rooms, and much more.
Return to hotel for overnight
Day 6 – Monday May 5th 2014
After a leisurely breakfast it’s time to head out to the airport for the return flight back to the Black Hills of South
Dakota.
Itinerary at a glance
Price: from $3,995 (pp based on double occupancy)
Starts: Tuesday April 29th 2014
Ends: Sunday May 4th 2014
How to book


Deposit due of $995 per person at time of booking
Balance due March 24th 2014
What you'll need

Camera for the great sights
Weather
The weather in Louisville is normally pleasant at this time of year, check out weather.com for average temperatures.
Travel Advice
Please visit the travel advice section of this site for further information and government advisories and warnings.
1-888-788-6777
abstravelgroup.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ABS Travel Group | 945 Enchantment Road, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
1-888-788-6777 | 1-605-791-2520
Fax 605-791-2618