Churchill Downs Readies Official 152nd Kentucky Derby Menu

BusinessSportsMoneyChurchill Downs Readies Official 152nd Kentucky Derby MenuByTim Newcomb,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tim Newcomb covers tennis gear/business, stadiums and shoe tech.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 10:00am EDTThe menu for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Churchill DownsAhead of the May 2 running of the 152nd Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs knows it must prepare more than just the track as the site welcomes over 150,000 fans on Kentucky Derby day. Part of that preparation includes feeding the masses. New for 2026, head chef Robert Lopez aimed to create a Louisville-inspired celebration of spring, mixing classic and contemporary dishes across the menu. The senior executive chef for Levy and the head chef at Churchill Downs plans menus that work for the entire week of racing, culminating with the Kentucky Derby on the final Saturday, all aimed to highlight seasonal ingredients from nearby farms with locally inspired combinations. “Churchill Downs is always committed to honoring its iconic traditions, and this year I’m coming to the table with familiar elements along with some exciting culinary twists,” Lopez says. “The menu for the 152nd ‘Run for the Roses’ features flavors that will be recognizable to returning guests, including delectable honey bourbon sauces and brown sugar caramelization, while incorporating surprise components to ensure on-track diners are immersed in the full experience.” The char-grilled short ribs are part of the Kentucky Derby menu. Churchill DownsMaking the task more complicated is the logistical puzzle. Churchill Downs is one of the most premium-heavy sporting events on the annual calendar. Across the 150,000 fans, 90,000 will land in a premium area or reserved seat, while 60,000 enter as general admission. With dozens of different premium spaces broken into three tiers—premium club and private spaces, high-end premium and the top level, dubbed ultra-luxury—each of the tiers has different spaces within them. With most Kentucky Derby tickets now fully inclusive of food, the menus must reflect the spaces and meet the demands of the customers.MORE FOR YOUThroughout the Kentucky Derby, the menu will get served across more than two dozen dining rooms requiring the use of 17 full kitchens and 100 Levy chefs from across the country. Levy expects to serve 5,000 pounds of short ribs, 4,000 pounds of shrimp, 6,000 pounds of carrots and over 50,000 blackberries. MORE: Inside Churchill Downs, From Millionaire’s Row To The Paddock ClubFor the 2026 menu, Lopez has a green goddess pasta salad and a kale salad with cider sorghum vinaigrette ready to start. On the side, expect to find an assortment of vegetables and dips, such as a traditional hummus, a lemon sweat pea hummus and a buttermilk herb dip. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); }; document.head.appendChild(iframe); const preloadResourcesEndpoint = 'https://cds.elements.video/a/preload-resources-ovp.json'; fetch(preloadResourcesEndpoint, { priority: 'low' })…

This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at Forbes - Business.