A behind-the-scenes look at the famous Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – More than 150,000 spectators are expected to descend on Churchill Downs for the legendary Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but the story of race day begins long before the crowds arrive.

For those who don’t see, Derby Day on May 2 isn’t about neat juleps and eye-catching hats – it’s the culmination of years of training, millions in investment and the final hours where it all comes together.

And spectators willing to spend a pretty penny for the extra experience can shell out around $16,800 to sit at a table above the track, while prices listed on the website for private turf suites start at $280,000.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these horses,” Stan Bowling, tour director at the Kentucky Derby Museum, told Fox News Digital. And some fans feel the same way.

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Only 3-year-old breeds can enter the race, with training starting early and intensified in the years leading up to the Kentucky Derby, affectionately called “the fastest two minutes in sports.”

“There’s a lot of expectation in those two minutes and a little bit of change for all these owners, trainers and jockeys,” said Bowling, a Kentucky native who has attended the race 28 times. “There are no do-overs on this song.”

While the race itself is fast, the road to Churchill Downs is empty. Along the way, the horses earn points for qualifying races, while the trainers manage all the details to ensure that there are many breedings at the right time.

Eligible horses arrive in early March to acclimatize to the track and live at Churchill Downs, which hosts approximately 750 races each year. But no other race at that track carries the same weight as the Kentucky Derby — the 12th in a string of 14 races anchoring the day’s events.

“Every morning, from mid-March until the end of the year, the horses will be out training at the track between 5:30 and 10 a.m.,” Bowling said as he steered the golf cart down the fairway toward what is known as the back.

He noted that by mid-March, approximately 1,400 horses arrived at the stables.

A qualified horse is seen during early morning training on the track at Churchill Downs. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

It is here, beyond the grandstands and away from the event, that Churchill Downs takes on a different identity. The ranch operates as a small, self-governing community, with 47 stables housing horses and about 600 employees who live and work on site.

The grounds include a church and a small school – a piece of private land that is just as spectacular from afar.

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The background cuts through the rows of many nondescript stalls, labeled by a few with the names of famous horses and their runners.

“Want to guess how much it costs to rent one of these resorts at the world’s most famous race?” Bowling asked.

“$7.50.”

About 1,400 horses fill the stables in the arenas that fill Churchill Downs. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

That small amount is just the beginning, a small number compared to the millions that can be prepared for a single horse during its training and care.

That level of investment is reflected in the fan experience, where going to the Derby comes at a lower price.

“It’s an expensive ticket, I’ll give you that, but for a lot of people, coming to see the Kentucky Derby is a bucket list event,” Bowling said.

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Tickets range from about $160 for access to the 26-acre grassy interior — where the race is shown on big screens — to about $800 for the cheapest seats in the viewing area.

For Grandstand ticket holders, food, alcohol and soft drinks are included in the price, as well as entry to the races held on Friday and Saturday.

“Among the 60,000 Grandstand seats, those closest to the track and far from the finish line tend to be the least expensive,” he added.

Eventually, the prices went up a lot.

A view of the Kentucky Derby grandstand at Churchill Downs, where seats can range from $1,000 to more than $16,000. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

“If you want to be at the Woodford Reserve Paddock Club for a unique, exclusive experience, a glass table for six can cost you $16,800 a seat,” Darren Rogers of Churchill Downs told Fox News Digital.

“We have many different levels of packages that match the experience that visitors are looking for, especially out-of-towners and bucket list visitors.”

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Meanwhile, tickets for a regular non-Kentucky Derby race day can cost as little as $10.

But for many, the high price is worth paying for a moment – two minutes that carry years of work, millions of dollars and a lifetime’s ambition.