LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A new process for buying Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby tickets has some folks asking questions. The questions come because of a $50 administration fee that is charged to everyone even if you don't end up with tickets.
John Asher, vice president for racing communications at Churchill Downs, said the new system is better than before because fans will get to pick their top ten choices for seats.
"And it gives you a good opportunity, probably a better opportunity than the general public has had in some past years, to get Kentucky Derby tickets," said Asher. "The online process makes it more streamlined. And now with this new process where you can designate seating areas where you would like to be."
Here's how it will work. You sign up now on the Churchill Downs' website to say you are interested in tickets. On November 7, an email will go out to everyone signed up and you will have to pay $100 deposit, half of which is the administrative fee. That is also when you can submit your seating request form.
Everyone will find out if they have gotten tickets by late January or early February 2012.
This was a hot topic on the WAVE 3 facebook page. Here are some of the comments.
Matt Keith: "The non-refunable fee is absolutely insane. It's wrong and it's just another greed for someone."
Misty Lockhard: "I don't mind it other than the non-refundable fee. Guess we will see how smooth it goes the day they give us the option to pick the seats."
De Marie Killen Newton: "I have been trying to get tickets for 3 years. Always sold out. Finally, we registered the proper way to be considered for the lottery. Now we pay even if we don't get tickets? Something doesn't sound right."
There are about 54,000 seats available for Derby. Almost 20,000 will be up for grabs through this process. Prices range from just under $200 a ticket to about $1,100. You can buy up to six seats.
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John Asher
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