A Derby Festival® Media badge should allow easy access for coverage of most official Derby Festival® event s. Application for credentials should be made by the News Assignment Editor on the company's letterhead. Working press will receive credentials beginning April 1, 2003.

These events require special media accommodations or restrictions:

• Derby Festival® Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville, Saturday, April 12. Festival Media badges permit access to event areas along the Downtown Riverfront, Belvedere, Indiana shorelines and VIP areas. RESTRICTED AREAS include the Second Street Bridge, all fireworks barges and the Command Center. These require special arrangements for media access, made in advance through the Festival.
• Derby Festival They're Off! ® Luncheon, Friday, April 11. Media Badges allow access to the VIP Reception in the Galt House East. Special arrangements are made for photos and interviews with the Guest Speaker and are announced prior to the event. You may cover the luncheon, on a standing room only basis, after 11:30 AM in the Grand Ballroom.
• Great Balloon Race ®, Saturday, April 26. Special credentials are needed to ride in competing Hot Air Balloons. Request should be made in advance with the Derby Festival. Space is limited. Credentials will be picked up the morning of the Race. (Radio broadcast restrictions apply.)
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Marathon and miniMarathon on Saturday, April 26 are needed if you are going to be cover along the route and at the finish line.
• Derby Festival Basketball Classic ®. Friday April 25 and Saturday April 26. Press Table or floor access for either night requires a Basketball Press Pass. Requests need to be made in advance. (Radio broadcast restrictions apply.)
• Great Steamboat Race ®. Wednesday, April 30. Tickets are required for the Belle, Belle of Cincinnati or Press Boat. They should be requested in advance. Space is extremely limited. You will be notified by mail or email if a ride is assigned. All tickets can be picked up on the Wharf on Race Day.
• Pegasus Parade ®. Thursday, May 1. Derby Festival media badges allow parade route access to facilitate coverage. Credentials do NOT allow:
  1. The right to offer live broadcast coverage of the Parade. The Parade route extends for 1.7 miles along Broadway, from Campbell to 9th Streets.
     
  2. Ability to set up in the street for any purpose (e.g., setting up a tripod on Broadway), or entry into the "TV Zone" on between Preston to Floyd Streets.
     
  3. Photographing from on top of buildings along Broadway. This requires permission from the Louisville Division of Police.
     
  4. Access to the VIP Room for celebrity interviews on Parade Day. Arrangements must be made with press office in advance.

Broadcast Guidelines
Due to existing contractual agreements, there are restrictions on live broadcasts of some Festival events. No independent live broadcast of the events listed below, other than for news coverage purposes, is authorized or permitted. These include:

• Derby Festival® Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville. TV rights -- WHAS 11 (ABC affiliate) and WAVE 3 (NBC Affiliate).
• Derek Anderson Derby Festival® Basketball Classic. Exclusive radio rights - HOT 104 FM (Radio One Broadcasting).
• Derby Festival® Great Balloon Race. Exclusive radio rights -- 84WHAS AM(Clear Channel Radio).
• Derby Festival® Pegasus Parade. Exclusive TV rights -- WAVE3 TV (NBC affiliate).
• U.S. Bank Derby Festival® Great Balloon Glow. Exclusive TV rights - WHAS 11(ABC affiliate).
• BB& T Derby Festival® Great Bed Races. Exclusive TV rights - WAVE3 TV (NBC Affiliate).
  

Filming of Derby Festival® events for private sale or commercial distribution requires prior written approval from Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc.

Special Note
Derby Festival® credentials do not provide access to Churchill Downs. Kentucky Derby Festival®, Inc. is a separate entity from the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, Inc. To request Churchill Downs press credentials, contact Media Services Manager, Churchill Downs, (502) 636-4460.