by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — Northfield Park is the place to be for this year’s Triple Crown action. Plan your weekend with us for both the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 2) and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (May 1).

Doors open early at 9:30 a.m. on both days with first post at Churchill Downs at 10:30 a.m. Northfield Park will offer a special Churchill Downs Handicapping Contest each day. Advance wagering on the Derby will be available, plus there will be more than 40 tracks from all over the world sending their simulcast signals live to Northfield.

Northfield Park will host its fourth annual Food Truck Festival outside on the apron on Saturday. Eight of northeast Ohio’s top food trucks will be selling their specialties from 12 noon until 7 p.m. Food truck participants include Zydeco Bistro (gourmet creole and cajun cuisine), The Nosh Box (paninis and sandwiches), The Beachcomber (operated by 3 Foodies Roadfood), Get Stuffed Mobile Eatery, Seti’s Polish Boys, Motor Mouth Food Truck (globally inspired gourmet street food), Fire Truck Pizza Company (wood fired pizza from a firetruck) and Off The Griddle (breakfast and lunch creations served on homemade belgian waffles or flatbread).

Enjoy live music by The One Hit Wonders 12:30–2:30 p.m.; Monica Robins & The Ninja Cowboys from 3-5 p.m.; and Unknown Reason on the outdoor apron from 5:30-8 p.m.

Don’t forget to wear your best Derby hat and enter the Kentucky Derby Hat Contest, sponsored by Seagram’s and Cleveland’s Q-104. Special guest host Carley McCord from the Q-104 morning show will judge the contest, which offers a top prize of $500 cash. Plus, Scan N’ Win with WGAR’s Brian Fowler from 2–4 p.m. and spin Majic 105.7’s prize wheel with Chip Kullik from 4–6 p.m.

If you are arriving early join Bob “Railbird” Roberts and track announcer Ayers Ratliff for a Churchill Downs handicapping seminar which begins at 9:30 a.m. The Derby morning special of a donut and a coffee for $1 will be available from 9:30 a.m., plus don’t miss out on a Kentucky Derby favorite — the mint julep served in a souvenir Derby glass.

More than $10,000 in prizes will be given away throughout Derby Day. Simply fill out the entry blank that you receive when you enter and deposit it in the contest bin located in the center of the grandstand. Names will be drawn randomly throughout the day for a spin on our prize wheel. Every spin of our wheel is a winner of a host of prizes (Kentucky Derby merchandise, $100 Kentucky Derby win wagers, Hard Rock Rocksino concert tickets and Club Velvet/Comedy Zone tickets, restaurant gift cards, etc). Our Super Prize Wheel will offer patrons a chance to win $500 to $5,000 in cash.

Free admission and feee parking everyday at Northfield Park.