From start to finish, WLKY is covering the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Minimarathon. We’ll be on air from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. with complete race day coverage! Here’s everything you need to know: The basics Date: Saturday, April 27 Start time: The gunshot rings out at 7 a.m. The wheelchair division starts five minutes before at 6:55 a.m. How long: The mini is 13.1 miles and the full marathon is 26.2 miles. There is a four-hour time limit for the mini and a six-hour time limit for the marathon. Courses will begin to close once these time limits are reached, but runners will still be able to complete the course on sidewalks. The Derby Festival is once again offering an option for a virtual race, which can take place anywhere and at any time from April 27 to May 27. Virtual runners will receive a race jersey, medal and digital finisher certificate. The Course This year’s courses begin at Main and Brook Streets, near Slugger Field, and both end at Lynn Family Stadium. For the first time since 2019, the full marathon course. will be a Louisville-only course, with runners heading up Southern Parkway and through Iroquois Park before returning to the finish. View the route map for both races here. The mini will retain its status as a flat course, with riders only getting 111 feet of gain over the entire 13.1 miles. Marathon runners will see a little more elevation, as they’ll get 478 feet of elevation gain, with the majority of hills in Iroquois Park. How to Watch You can watch in person along the course to cheer on the runners, or we’ll have live coverage all morning, with Race Day Live from 5-10 a.m., on WLKY. You can watch this on channel 32, on our website, wlky.com or on our free mobile app. You can also access coverage on the Very Local app, which you can download to your smart TV or streaming device. No subscription is necessary. ForecastCLICK HERE TO FIND THE LATEST FORECAST DETAILS.Street ClosuresFriday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27Adams Street, from Campbell Street to Cable StreetSaturday, April 27, 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.Main Street, from Jackson Street to Brook StreetPreston Street from Main Street to River RoadRiver Road from Preston Street to Edith Lane (local access to Big Four Bridge)Washington Street from Floyd Street to Preston StreetWitherspoon Street from Floyd Street to Adams StreetFloyd Street from Witherspoon Street to Main StreetSaturday, April 27, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Iroquois ParkSaturday, April 27, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Main Street, Jackson Street to 19th Street19th Street, Main Street to Market StreetMarket Street, 19th Street to 13th Street13th Street, Market Street to Magazine Street12th Street Connector, from Magazine Street to BroadwayBroadway from 15th Street to Second StreetFourth Street from Broadway to Oakdale AvenuePark Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth StreetSixth Street from Park Avenue to Magnolia AvenueMagnolia Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth StreetCentral Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Third StreetThird street from Central Avenue to Southern ParkwayThird Street from Central Avenue to Main StreetSaturday, April 27, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.Southern Parkway from 3rd Street to New Cut RoadTaylor Boulevard from Carol Jean Court to Southland TerraceMedalsWant to follow a runner?KDF partners with the free RaceJoy app to track runners on race day. You can download it here. Once downloaded, search for and select the Kentucky Derby Festival race you are competing in using the search box. The app will then walk you through how to use your bib number for progress alerts, live tracking, personalizing notifications, and using Send-A-Cheer to share time-targeted messages with runners. Additionally, race results will be posted here: RESULTS Want to run? Late registration for runners is available at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Race Expo until 5 p.m. Friday, April 26. Late registration for the miniMarathon costs $135 and $150 for the marathon. Need to collect your package? Race packages can be picked up beginning Thursday, April 25 at the Expo, which returns for the second year to Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane (entrance through Gates 1 or 4). It is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday April 25 and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday April 26. You will not be able to pick it up on race day.
From start to finish, WLKY covers the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival marathon and minimarathon.
We’ll be on air from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. with full race day coverage!
Here’s everything you need to know:
The basics
- Date: Saturday April 27
- Start time: The shot rings out at 7:00 a.m. The wheelchair division starts five minutes early at 6:55 a.m.
- How long: The mini is 13.1 miles and the full marathon is 26.2 miles.
There is a four-hour time limit for the mini and a six-hour time limit for the marathon. Courses will begin to close once these time limits are reached, but runners will still be able to complete the course on sidewalks.
The Derby Festival is once again offering an option for a virtual race, which can take place anywhere and at any time from April 27 to May 27. Virtual runners will receive a race jersey, medal and digital finisher certificate.
The lesson
This year’s courses begin at Main and Brook streets, near Slugger Field, and both end at Lynn Family Stadium.
For the first time since 2019, the full marathon course will be a Louisville-only course, with runners traveling up Southern Parkway and through Iroquois Park before returning to the finish.
View the route map for both races here.
The mini will retain its status as a flat course, with riders only getting 111 feet of gain over the entire 13.1 miles. Marathon runners will see a bit more elevation, as they will get a gain of 478 feet, with the majority of the hills in Iroquois Park.
How to watch
You can watch in person along the course to cheer on the runners, or we’ll have live coverage all morning, with Race Day Live from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., on WLKY. You can watch this on channel 32, on our website, wlky.com or on our free mobile app.
You can also access coverage on the Very Local app, which you can download to your smart TV or streaming device. No subscription is necessary.
Forecast
CLICK HERE TO FIND THE LATEST FORECAST DETAILS.
Street closures
Friday April 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday April 27
- Adams Street, from Campbell Street to Cable Street
Saturday April 27 from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Main Street, Jackson Street to Brook Street
- Preston Street, from Main Street to River Road
- River Road, Preston Street to Edith Lane (local access to Big Four Bridge)
- Washington Street, from Floyd Street to Preston Street
- Witherspoon Street, from Floyd Street to Adams Street
- Floyd Street, from Witherspoon Street to Main Street
Saturday April 27 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday April 27 from 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Main Street, Jackson Street to 19th Street
- 19th Street, from Main Street to Market Street
- Market Street, 19th Street to 13th Street
- 13th Street, from Market Street to Magazine Street
- 12th Street Connector, from Magazine Street to Broadway
- Broadway, 15th Street to 2nd Street
- Fourth Street, from Broadway to Oakdale Avenue
- Park Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth Street
- Sixth Street, from Park Avenue to Magnolia Avenue
- Magnolia Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street
- Central Avenue, from Taylor Boulevard to Third Street
- Third Street, from Central Avenue to Southern Parkway
- Third Street, from Central Avenue to Main Street
Saturday April 27, from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Southern Parkway, 3rd Street to New Cut Road
- Taylor Boulevard, from Carol Jean Court to Southland Terrace
The medals
Want to follow a runner?
KDF partners with the free RaceJoy app to track runners on race day.
You can download it here.
Once downloaded, search for and select the Kentucky Derby Festival race you are competing in using the search box. The app will then walk you through how to use your bib number for progress alerts, live tracking, personalizing notifications, and using Send-A-Cheer to share time-targeted messages with runners.
Additionally, race results will be published here: RESULTS
Do you want to run?
Late registration for runners is available at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Race Expo until 5 p.m. Friday, April 26. Late registration for the miniMarathon costs $135 and $150 for the marathon.
Need to collect your package?
Race records can be picked up beginning Thursday, April 25, at the Expo, which returns for the second year to Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane (entrance through Gates 1 or 4).
It is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday April 25 and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday April 26.
You cannot pick up on race day.
