By Brooke Moody–

As the sky lightens behind the iconic twin spires of Churchill Downs, Kentuckians flocked to the track for a day of horse racing, bourbon, music and fun. May 5th marks Thurby, a day that celebrates all things Kentucky.

Considered a more casual day at Churchill Downs, Thurby-goers dawn everything from jeans and boots to bright dresses and hats. But May’s unusually cold weather led many to bundle up in sweatshirts and jackets for the day-long party.

In addition to appropriately dressing for the weather, guests to Churchill Downs can now make sure they have the best Derby celebration possible via a new app.

The app, called Churchill Downs Racetrack by VenueNext, is a major technological upgrade for the racetrack that caters to guests’ needs during their visit.

From the moment they step out of their cars, racegoers can utilize the app to make sure they are ready for the day of fun ahead of them. The app features locations services that allows you to pin the location of your car, find your seats and locate the nearest restroom.

It also includes in-app ticket services. By downloading your ticket to the app, you can use your device for scanned entry into Churchill Downs. Don’t have tickets yet? You can purchase tickets through the app for any of the Kentucky Derby Festival events. The app even has a resale marketplace for selling and buying already-purchased tickets for Kentucky Oaks and Derby.

The convenience of the app becomes apparent once you enter Churchill Downs. Throughout the day of drinking, betting and socializing the app can be used to order food and beverages for express pick up, and even offers select in-seat delivery.

ISO users get the added benefit of mobile betting through Twinspires. You can place bets on a race and collect winnings without ever leaving your seat.

If you are not heading out to Churchill Downs during this year’s Derby celebration, you can still stay connected through the app’s Horses & History, which givers users an inside look at the contending horses as well as Churchill Downs and Derby traditions.

For coverage of Thurby, Oaks and Derby you can also connect with The Louisville Cardinal on Twitter and Instagram to receive live updates from the track and exclusive inside looks at the Derby celebration happening at Churchill Downs.

Photo by Bryce Mansfield / The Louisville Cardinal