This year’s Kentucky Derby came in as the second-highest attended in the race’s vaunted history, as more than 167,000 guests packed Churchill Downs on May 7 to witness pre-race favorite Nyquist take the 142nd Run for the Roses. For private aviation, the event was a record-setter, according to Atlantic Aviation, the lone FBO at Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field.
The Plano, Texas-based service provider handled 624 aircraft in the four days surrounding the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” four more than last year, with 340 of them on the ground at the start of the race, surpassing last year's total of 243 present at post time. Aircraft, including a higher percentage of large jets than in past years, were parked along taxiways and freight ramps, while their crews enjoyed fried chicken, hamburgers and Derby Pie as they watched the race broadcast in Atlantic’s hospitality tents.