2024 Kentucky Derby Dining by the Numbers

The 150th Kentucky Derby is upon us, and more than a thousand cooks are in a Louisville kitchen preparing for the event. 

Derby Day is Saturday, May 4, with celebratory racing events at Churchill Downs kicking off on Wednesday, May 1 with Champions Day. And with a viewership capacity of 165,000 guests around the racetrack, that’s a lot of folks to feed.

Throughout the four days, over 20,000 bottles of Woodford Reserve Bourbon will be served, along with 20,000 pieces of assorted desserts, 10,000 pounds of smoked brisket, 9,000 pounds of shrimp, 1,000 pounds of cheese, and 1,000 pounds of mint for Mint Juleps. 

“We’re known for serving well over a hundred thousand mint juleps throughout the week, and this year we probably will be serving even more,” says Levy senior executive chef Robert Lopez, who is overseeing the Kentucky Derby menu for the first time, hinting at some collectible cups and special anniversary items for the iconic cocktail. He’s overseeing a kitchen staff of 1,500, plus 100 executive chefs, to prepare food and menus for the 40 different food establishments expected to serve over half a million mouths at Churchill Downs during Derby Week. 

Diners at the Derby can choose from a variety of culinary experiences, be it walking up to a concession stand for a classic Midwestern hot dog, sitting down at Matt Winn’s Steakhouse for an elegant three-course feast, or scoping out international eateries for a sushi platter. 

“We want people to walk away with not only memories of the 150th Derby, but their entire experience, and food and beverage drives those memories that people carry with them for the rest of their lives,” says Lopez. “I think guests will be extremely happy with our mixture of spring-forward products that are both light and refreshing. We have a mixture of both fresh and light and savory nostalgic dishes that people know and love.” 

This year’s signature Derby Menu, available trackwide and in multiple dining rooms and suites across Churchill Downs, is lush with plant-based items and local products.

A green pea pasta salad, Bibb Salad with bourbon poached pear and herb buttermilk dressing, nduja shrimp pasta, and brisket burnt ends with a Woodford cherry bourbon demi glaze are all on the signature menu.

“I’m very much looking forward to highlighting the tradition of the Derby as well as new spins on traditional items,” says Lopez. “We’re also very excited to showcase a lot of our local ingredients as well.” Kentucky-based Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese can be found starring in white cheddar mac and cheese, Weisenberger’s grits are also a menu highlight, plus charcuterie from Smoking Goose, pork from farms near Louisville and countless dairy products, produce, and proteins are sourced from within a 100-mile radius. 

“We use a lot of ingredients from local farms and purveyors to help boost that community and drive involvement in the Derby,” says Lopez. Due to the size of the event and necessary quantities, several small local farms may be tapped for the same ingredient. “We have great local product and we’re helping the community with the ingredients in these dishes.” 

In honor of the Kentucky Derby’s 150th anniversary this year, culinary surprises await, including a special $150 Old Fashioned cocktail. Though the sporting event has been controversial in recent years, the food aims to please all who attend. 

“For people who have been here every Derby for the last 60 years and the people that this is their first Derby, we want to make them feel like they’re experiencing something that no one else is, and they’re getting something very exclusive,” says Lopez.