The Iroquois Steeplechase runs Saturday, May 8, 2027, at Percy Warner Park. First race 1 p.m.; general admission is $78 and kids 12 and under get in free.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. Organizer: Iroquois Steeplechase, office 615-591-2991, customer service 1-800-619-4802.
The Iroquois Steeplechase is Nashville’s spring horse race, held on the second Saturday in May at Percy Warner Park since 1941. The organizer counts more than 35,000 race day attendees and more than $12 million given to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The 2027 race is Saturday, May 8.
At a glance
- When: Saturday, May 8, 2027, rain or shine
- Where: Percy Warner Park, 2500 Old Hickory Blvd.
- Gates: first areas open 8 a.m.; first race 1 p.m.; final race 5 p.m.
- General admission: $78 including fees; children 12 and under free with a ticketed adult
- No pets, no glass, no re-entry
- Organizer: iroquoissteeplechase.org, 615-591-2991
Race day schedule
From the organizer’s race day page for May 8, 2027:
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | RV and inside-the-track tailgating open (Topside, Centerfield, Midfield, Railside parking) |
| 9 a.m. | Stirrup Club and Family Area tailgating open; Hillside tents open |
| 10:30 a.m. | Live music begins at the Big 98 stage |
| Noon | Opening ceremonies, Parade of Hounds and national anthem |
| 1 p.m. | First race |
| 1:15 p.m. | Children’s stick horse race |
| 5 p.m. | Final race |
The day’s feature is the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, a Grade 1 race over three miles. In 2026, the 85th running, Zabeel Champion won the $250,000 race under Freddie Procter, the organizer’s history page says. The race day program carries the exact race times.
Tickets
The organizer sells several ways in on its tickets page:
- Individual admission, $78 including all fees: the run of the public areas, Steeplechase Central, the Iroquois Shoppes, vendor village and tailgating areas. No seat or reserved spot, and no parking (details).
- Children 12 and under get in free to individual admission and tailgating areas with a ticketed adult. Paid hospitality areas need a child’s ticket.
- Box seats, Magnolia Garden, Royal 615 (21 and over), Railside private tents and reserved tailgating spaces are sold as packages; prices are on each package page.
The event runs rain or shine and there is no re-entry.
Parking, rideshare and getting there
- Buy parking ahead. Individual admission does not include parking. Lot T (Gate 7), premium parking (Gate 2) and valet (Gate 5) are sold separately, subject to availability, the organizer’s parking page says.
- Packages: box seats include one pass each for Boxholder A (Gate 3) and Boxholder B (Gate 2). Each reserved tailgating space includes one vehicle. Lot S (Gate 4) has a free shuttle to the Hillside entrance.
- Print your parking pass and keep it visible in the windshield at the gate.
- Do not rely on GPS. Race day road closures change the driving routes, the organizer’s maps and directions page says. Follow the directions on your parking pass.
- Rideshare passengers must use the designated race day drop-off; directions are on the organizer’s site.
- Buses and oversized vehicles need a special pass in advance and enter at Gate 4, Lot S, via Sneed Road to Vaughn Road.
Arrive early: the organizer says traffic builds through the morning.
What to bring and leave home
From the organizer’s what to bring page:
- Bring: sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, bottled water and comfortable shoes. The grounds are hilly grass, and the organizer says to expect to walk.
- Tailgaters may bring one 10-by-10 tent, a table and chairs per space.
- No pets (service animals excepted), no glass, no grills or open flames, no drones, no fireworks or firearms, and no inflatables.
- No outside alcohol in Royal 615, Magnolia Garden, the Iroquois Society, the Paddock Club or the Family Area tailgating.
- Children must be with an adult to cross the track.
More in Nashville
The race falls two weeks after the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon. Percy Warner Park’s trails and the rest of the city’s green space are in our parks and trails guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Iroquois Steeplechase?
Saturday, May 8, 2027, at Percy Warner Park. The organizer holds it on the second Saturday in May; the first areas open at 8 a.m., the first race is at 1 p.m. and the final race is at 5 p.m.
How much are Iroquois Steeplechase tickets?
An individual admission ticket is $78 including fees. It does not include a seat or parking. Children 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult in the general and tailgating areas.
Can I bring a cooler to the Iroquois Steeplechase?
Box seat and tailgating guests may bring food and alcohol, but no glass. No outside alcohol is allowed in Royal 615, the Family Area, Magnolia Garden, the Iroquois Society or the Paddock Club.
Can I bring my dog to the Iroquois Steeplechase?
No. Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals.
Where do I park for the Iroquois Steeplechase?
Parking depends on your ticket and must be bought in advance unless your package includes it. General admission guests can buy Lot T or premium or valet parking, or use the race day rideshare drop-off. Print your pass and display it.
Have your say