Industry News

Kentucky Derby official resale site launched

Churchill Downs has linked up with Ticketmaster to launch an official resale marketplace for this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Organisers said the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange is the race’s only authorised resale platform and that all sales meet state and local regulations.

The exchange will be integrated with the Derby’s Ticketmaster software and utilises proprietary technology to ensure that fans will receive “legitimate, Ticketmaster-verified tickets”.

Ticketholders who are unable to attend the Kentucky Oaks or Derby can resell their tickets at face value or above using various pricing options.

“Attending the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks are bucket-list events for many fans, and it’s a priority that we provide them with an easy-to-use platform that guarantees the legitimacy of their tickets,” said Sarah Contardo, vice president of sales and strategy for Churchill Downs Racetrack. “We encourage our fans to only use Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange because it’s the only resale platform where we are able to guarantee the tickets are verified.”

The race will take place on May 6 and is expected to attract a crowd of almost 170,000.

SeatGeek last year reported that tickets on various secondary markets sold for an average of $452 (£362/€424).

“As the Kentucky Derby’s official ticketing partner for the second year running, we share in their commitment to provide safe and reliable primary and resale tickets to fans,” said Clay Luter, senior vice president for Ticketmaster North America.