Churchill Downs facts for kids
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°12′11″N 85°46′12″W / 38.20306°N 85.77000°W |
| Owned by | Churchill Downs Incorporated |
| Date opened | 1875 |
| Screened on | NBC (Kentucky Derby) |
| Course type | Flat |
| Notable races | Kentucky Derby Kentucky Oaks Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stephen Foster Handicap Clark Handicap |
Churchill Downs is a famous place in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, where horse racing happens. It's most known for hosting the yearly Kentucky Derby. The track first opened in 1875. It was named after Samuel Churchill, whose family was very important in Kentucky for many years.
The very first Kentucky Derby, a big race for Thoroughbred horses, happened here in 1875. This race is now part of the famous Triple Crown. The first Kentucky Oaks race also took place in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the well-known Breeders' Cup horse racing event nine times. The most recent one was in 2018.
The company Churchill Downs Incorporated owns and runs the racetrack. On Kentucky Derby day, when the middle area (infield) is open, Churchill Downs can hold about 170,000 people!
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Discovering Churchill Downs' Past
The racetrack is named after John and Henry Churchill. They rented out 80 acres of land to their nephew, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.. He was the grandson of the famous explorer William Clark. In 1875, Clark started the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association. His father-in-law, Richard Ten Broeck, was a skilled horse breeder and trainer. He introduced Clark to horse racing, and they even went to the English Derby in London.
Churchill Downs became important because two older racetracks in Louisville, Oakland and Woodlawn, had closed. The new location was in the countryside, right next to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks. This made it easy to bring horses to the track.
By the 1890s, Clark was running low on money. He preferred longer races, but shorter ones were becoming popular. So, in 1894, he sold the track to a group led by William E. Applegate. The new owners made many changes.
Big Changes and New Traditions
In 1895, they built the famous twin spire grandstand. In 1896, they shortened the main race to its modern length of 1¼ miles (2 km). Also in 1896, they started the tradition of giving the Derby winner a garland of roses.
In 1902, Applegate handed over the daily running of the track to Charles F. Grainger. Grainger was the mayor of Louisville at the time. This was an effort to make Churchill Downs known for more than just gambling. Colonel Matt Winn also joined the team. Churchill Downs became very successful. The Kentucky Derby grew into the most important race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America.
During this time, a new clubhouse was built for social events. New activities like steeplechases (races with obstacles), car races, and band concerts were held. The Kentucky State Fair even took place there. One strange event was two trains intentionally crashing head-on in the infield!
On June 5, 1907, African American jockey James Lee made history. He won all six races on the card at Churchill Downs, a record that has never been broken.
In 1908, special machines for parimutuel betting were brought in. This made the betting part of the track's business more profitable.
Churchill Downs was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. This means it's a very important historical place.
On June 19, 2009, Churchill Downs held its first-ever night race. Over 27,000 people came to watch!
Music and Weather at the Track
In 2010, Churchill Downs tried something new. They organized a big music festival called HullabaLOU. They hoped it would be a yearly event. About 78,000 people attended, but it didn't meet expectations. The company decided not to continue the festival.
On June 22, 2011, a strong tornado hit the Louisville area. It damaged some stables and the chapel at Churchill Downs. Over 200 horses had to be moved to other stables. Luckily, the famous twin spires and the main clubhouse were not damaged.
Since 2014, the Thursday races during Derby week have been called Thurby. This name combines "Thursday" and "Derby."
Important Races at Churchill Downs
Many important races are held at Churchill Downs. These races are ranked by how important they are. Here are some of the top races from 2019:
Grade I Races
- Churchill Downs Stakes
- Clark Handicap
- Humana Distaff Stakes
- Kentucky Derby
- La Troienne Stakes
- Kentucky Oaks
- Turf Classic Stakes
Grade II Races
- Alysheba Stakes
- American Turf Stakes
- Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes
- Eight Belles Stakes
- Falls City Handicap
- Fleur de Lis Handicap
- Golden Rod Stakes
- Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
- Mrs. Revere Stakes
- Stephen Foster Handicap
- Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes
- Wise Dan Stakes
Grade III Races
- Ack Ack Handicap
- Bashford Manor Stakes
- Cardinal Handicap
- Chilukki Stakes
- Commonwealth Turf Stakes
- Edgewood Stakes
- Louisville Stakes
- Lukas Classic Stakes
- Matt Winn Stakes
- Mint Julep Handicap
- Pat Day Mile Stakes
- Regret Stakes
- River City Handicap
- Winning Colors Stakes
Churchill Downs Facilities
The twin spires on top of the grandstands are the most famous part of Churchill Downs' design. They are a symbol for both the track and the Derby. Architect Joseph Dominic Baldez designed them, and they were built in 1895. Today, Churchill Downs covers 147 acres. On a normal race day, about 50,000 people can sit there. But on Derby day, over 150,000 people might be there!
The main dirt track, where the Derby is run, is one mile (1.6 km) around. It is about 79 to 80 feet (24 meters) wide. There's also a turf (grass) track inside the main track. It is 7/8 of a mile (1.4 km) around and 80 feet (24 meters) wide.
Modern Updates and Features
From 2001 to 2005, Churchill Downs had a big renovation that cost $121 million. The clubhouse was replaced, and 79 new luxury suites were added. The historic twin spires were also fixed up.
One new feature in the clubhouse is a 36-foot (11 meter) mural by Pierre Bellocq. It shows all 96 jockeys who won the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 2004. The artist updates this mural every year to add new winning jockeys and trainers. Some people think the new suites block the full view of the spires.
Racing at Churchill Downs happens during three different times of the year. The spring meet starts one week before the Derby and lasts until early July. The Kentucky Derby is always on the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Derby. A fall meet starts in late October and ends around Thanksgiving in late November. A third meet in September was added in 2013.
Besides the track and buildings, Churchill Downs also has the Kentucky Derby Museum. This museum teaches visitors about the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs. It also has exhibits about training and racing thoroughbred horses. Inside, there's a 360-degree cinema that shows a short film called "The Greatest Race." The museum is usually open all year.
In October 2013, Churchill Downs installed a huge, new video board. It's called "The Big Board." It is 171 feet (52 meters) wide and 90 feet (27 meters) high. The bottom of the screen is 80 feet (24 meters) off the ground! At the time, it was the largest ultra high-definition video board ever built. At the same time, 750 speakers were put around the track.
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