Kentucky Derby 2027 (153rd Running)
Horse RacingChurchill Downs, Louisville, KY, USAChurchill Downs Incorporated
There is no public ballot for this event
Anyone selling you a “lottery entry” for it is not official. The routes that actually exist are listed below, straight from the organizer.
Key facts
- Ballot window
- Window not announced yet
- Event dates
- 2027-04-30 (Kentucky Oaks) and 2027-05-01 (Kentucky Derby)
- Ballot type
- none
- Entry cost
- n/a - no ballot. Tickets are sold directly (first come) in phased releases; no application or drawing required.
- Eligibility
- Open public sale, no restrictions.
- Ticket prices if you win
- Wide range: Infield General Admission up to premium all-inclusive reserved seating and suites. Most frontside reserved seats are sold only as 2-day (Oaks + Derby) all-inclusive packages. Exact 2027 prices vary by section; premium sales are quote-based via sales reps.
Where it stands
As of 7 Jul 2026
As of 2026-07-07: no ballot exists; 2027 tickets are already on public sale (since 2026-06-04) with more sections to be released in phases through the year.
How tickets actually work
Buy directly: kentuckyderby.com/tickets (routes to Ticketmaster), phone 502-636-4447, or sales@kyderby.com for premium packages. 2027 two-day packages (Ford First Turn, Starting Gate Courtyard, Homestretch Club, Infield GA) went on sale 2026-06-04 at noon ET; Churchill Downs continues rolling out further sections in tiered releases; Derby Week packages go on sale in early 2027.
Your odds
n/a - direct sale. High-demand sections sell out quickly at release.
Good to know
Official kentuckyderby.com ticket pages describe a tiered release system with no lottery, random drawing, or application process. One Yahoo Sports aggregation article (2026-06-04) loosely mentioned 'a pre-sale lottery opened in May for some areas'; this appears to refer to a Ticketmaster AccountManager presale registration for account holders (a presale landing page exists for Derby presales) and is not described as a ballot anywhere on official Churchill Downs pages. Separate note: the Kentucky Derby Festival 'Golden Ticket Raffle' (kdf.org) is a paid charity raffle by the nonprofit Kentucky Derby Festival, not an official Churchill Downs ticket ballot.
Quick answers
▸Is there a public ticket ballot for Kentucky Derby 2027 (153rd Running)?
No. There is no official public ballot or lottery for this event. Buy directly: kentuckyderby.com/tickets (routes to Ticketmaster), phone 502-636-4447, or sales@kyderby.com for premium packages. 2027 two-day packages (Ford First Turn, Starting Gate Courtyard, Homestretch Club, Infield GA) went on sale 2026-06-04 at noon ET; Churchill Downs continues rolling out further sections in tiered releases; Derby Week packages go on sale in early 2027.
▸How much does entering cost?
n/a - no ballot. Tickets are sold directly (first come) in phased releases; no application or drawing required.
▸Who can enter?
Open public sale, no restrictions.