Guest Opinion

By Dennis Trusty:

Derby Week for People Coming to Louisville in as An Outsider  

You’re coming in for the Kentucky Derby as a horse racing fan, and you don’t know where to go to get a good bite to eat after the races?

Or, you are a guest and you would like to know what to do besides stay inside your hotel room, which no one wants to do that. 

Well…rest easy.

Here are some places to go and things to do here while you’re not at Churchill Downs. 

Marks Feed Store, 4.5 stars on Yelp, $$:

If there is BBQ on your mind, this is the place to go. It’s about 13 minutes away from the track. Go for their ribs. Go for their brisket. But they are probably more known for their pulled pork sandwiches.

If you want a normal sandwich with cole slaw, fries and a drink, it will probably cost right about $15 dollars. Not going to kill your bank and you’re going to get some good Bar-B-Que.

Christi’s Café, 4.6 stars on Yelp, $:

Located 25 minutes away from Churchill, this spot will probably call to you.

Really, you should only do this on “Thurby.” Breakfast time, you get up early on “Thurby,” and you got plenty of time before the races start. Let’s say you just got off the plane yesterday and you wake up early and you have to go get breakfast.  I normally get a Western Omelette, which is a bunch of peppers, ham, and cheese, and 2 biscuit and gravy. That costs about 15 dollars, as well.

They have pancakes, french toast, egg platters, 2 eggs served with just about anything, bacon egg and cheese, everything breakfast.  

Derby City Pizza, 4.5 stars on Yelp, $$:

Located 5 minutes away from the track. If you’re in the mood for pizza, after having a few at the track all day, this is where you should go. Everyone here in Louisville has had Derby City Pizza. You can get a large pizza for $25. Get you and your friends together and knock that cost right down. It’s great pizza, after a long day. Sometimes a great pizza is all you need.  

El Comal rated 4.4 stars on Yelp, $:

This locale is only 20 minutes away from the track. Get here on a Thursday and don’t want to break the bank but get a libation or two? El Comal has 99-cent, 12-ounce Margarita’s every Wednesday and Thursday! And they have good taco’s too, with authentic flavors. Their salsa verde is very rich, with flavor perfect for any selections!   

Roosters On Dixie 4.2 stars on Yelp, $$:

Only 9 minutes away from the track. This is the bar I normally go and frequent. It’s a local chain and has multiple locations. But my “fav” is located all around Kentucky and Indiana. LOL. Drinks are great. Solid bar food, wings, burgers, pizzas. They have the best loaded fries — with nacho cheese, ham, green onions, jalapenos and a special sauce. Just bar food,  and prices are fair too. Great place to go to continue a party.

I will be honest I went to eat with the “Racing Dudes” there and they made fun of me because it was a “chain” and someone else said the Lexington place wasn’t great. But they wanted to see what Dennis did as a local. We got there and they had a great time. Food was great and drinks were fantastic.  

Give it a whirl.

Other Stuff, II:

There are a few things to do to calm down after the races, or if you have a free day:

There’s the:

River walk, walking along the Ohio River is really peaceful and it’s free.

If you like baseball, there’s the Louisville Slugger Museum tour. It costs $18 dollars, and you get to see all the baseball bats and how they are made.

If you want to get “creeped out,” just a bit, drive up to Waverly Hills. DO NOT GO INSIDE. LOL.  I’ve never been inside, but good luck.

Fourth Street Live for fun, dancing and a few cold ones, if that’s on your menu.

Chase Rice is doing a concert Thursday, and Steve Aoki is doing a DJ session on Friday. 

Hopefully, this helps you to enjoy your time in Louisville. Not only at Churchill Downs, but all around the city as well.

There’s lots of great places to go and see, and, to be honest, I don’t know a lot of the “high priced” venues and menu selections right now. But unlike most of the “picks,” you will read, I care about your gambling bank roll. I want you to have great food, great drinks, and at a very reasonable price! And a few dollars left over to go place a wager on that horse you came to town to see.

Good luck.

Dennis.