Churchill Downs facts for kids
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| Location | 700 Central Avenue Louisville, Kentucky United States |
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| Coordinates | 38°12′11″N 85°46′12″W / 38.20306°N 85.77000°W |
| Owned by | Churchill Downs Incorporated |
| Date opened | 1875 |
| Capacity | 170,000 |
| Screened on | NBC (Kentucky Derby) FanDuel TV |
| Course type | Flat 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Notable races |
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Churchill Downs
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Aerial view from east in 2018
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Built | 1875 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001348 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | 1986 |
Churchill Downs is a famous horse racing track in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is best known for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby, a very important horse race. The track first opened its gates in 1875. It was named after Samuel Churchill, whose family was well-known in Kentucky.
The very first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks race both happened in 1875. The Kentucky Derby is a major part of horse racing's Triple Crown. Churchill Downs has also hosted the Breeders' Cup nine times, with the most recent event in November 2018.
Churchill Downs Incorporated owns and runs the racetrack. On Kentucky Derby day, when the inner field is open, the track can hold about 170,000 people! In 2009, a group called the Horseplayers Association of North America ranked Churchill Downs as the 5th best Thoroughbred racetrack in North America.
Contents
The Story of Churchill Downs
The land for the track was leased by John and Henry Churchill to their nephew, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.. He was the grandson of the famous explorer William Clark. Colonel Clark was the head of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association, which started in 1875. His father-in-law, Richard Ten Broeck, was a horse breeder and trainer. He introduced Clark to the exciting world of horse racing. Clark even went to see the English Derby in London.
Churchill Downs was built in a rural area, close to railroad tracks. This made it easy to bring horses to the races. The track filled a need in Louisville after two older race courses, Oakland and Woodlawn, closed down.
Big Changes and New Traditions
By the 1890s, Colonel Clark was running low on money. In 1894, he sold the track to a group of investors led by William E. Applegate. The new owners made some important changes. In 1895, they built the famous twin spire grandstand. They also shortened the main race to its current length of 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) in 1896. That same year, a new tradition began: the winner of the Derby started receiving a garland of roses.
In 1902, Applegate asked Charles F. Grainger, who was then the mayor of Louisville, to help run the track. This was to make Churchill Downs known for more than just gambling. Colonel Matt Winn also joined the team. Under their leadership, Churchill Downs grew, and the Kentucky Derby became the most important race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses in North America.
Exciting Events and Milestones
During this time, a new clubhouse was built for social events. The track also hosted steeplechases, car races, and band concerts. The Kentucky State Fair was even held there, with unique shows like two locomotives crashing head-on!
On June 5, 1907, an African-American jockey named James Lee made history. He won all six races on the card at Churchill Downs, a record that still stands today.
In 1908, parimutuel betting machines were brought in. This made betting on races more organized and profitable. Over the years, Churchill Downs has expanded into online betting and racing machines too.
Churchill Downs was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
On June 19, 2009, Churchill Downs held its first-ever night race, which drew a crowd of over 27,000 people.
In 2010, the track tried to host a big music festival called HullabaLOU. It attracted many people, but it was very hot, and ticket prices were high. The festival was not continued after its first year.
On June 22, 2011, an EF2 tornado hit the Louisville area. It damaged some stables and the chapel at Churchill Downs. Over 200 horses had to be moved to other safe stables. Luckily, the famous twin spires and the main clubhouse were not damaged.
The Thursday before the Kentucky Derby is now known as Thurby. This fun name combines "Thursday" and "Derby" and has been officially used by Churchill Downs since 2014.
In June 2023, after some horse health and safety concerns, Churchill Downs moved its spring-summer races to Ellis Park Race Course in Henderson, Kentucky. This allowed them to review and improve their safety measures.
Exploring the Facilities
The most famous part of Churchill Downs is the pair of twin spires on top of the grandstands. They are a symbol of the track and the Derby. These spires were designed by a local architectural firm. Today, Churchill Downs covers about 147 acres (59 hectares). On Derby day, crowds can reach over 150,000 people!
The main dirt track, where the Derby is run, is one mile (1.6 kilometers) around and about 79-80 feet (24 meters) wide. There's also a grass track inside the main one, which is 7/8 of a mile (1.4 kilometers) around.
Modern Upgrades and Features
From 2001 to 2005, Churchill Downs had a big renovation project that cost $121 million. The clubhouse was rebuilt, and 79 new luxury suites were added. The twin spires were also restored. A cool addition was a 36-foot (11-meter) mural by artist Pierre Bellocq. It shows all the jockeys who won the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 2004. This mural is updated every year with new winners!
Racing at Churchill Downs happens during three different times of the year. The spring meet starts a week before the Derby and runs until early July. The Kentucky Derby is always on the first Saturday in May, and the Kentucky Oaks is on the Friday before. A fall meet takes place from late October to late November. Night races were added in 2009, and a third meet in September started in 2013.
The Kentucky Derby Museum
Besides the track, Churchill Downs is also home to the Kentucky Derby Museum. This museum teaches visitors all about the history of the Kentucky Derby and the track itself. It has exhibits that show how Thoroughbred horses are trained and raced. There's even a 360-degree cinema that plays a short film called The Greatest Race, which is a documentary about the Kentucky Derby. The museum is usually open all year.
In October 2013, Churchill Downs installed a huge, new ultra high-definition video board. It's called "The Big Board" and is 171 feet (52 meters) wide and 90 feet (27 meters) high! It weighs 1.2 million pounds (544,000 kilograms) and was one of the largest video boards of its kind when it was built. At the same time, 750 speakers were added around the track to improve the sound.
Recent Improvements
Churchill Downs has continued to make many improvements. A new grandstand called the First Turn Club opened before the 2023 Kentucky Derby. It can hold over 7,000 people. The next year, before the 150th Kentucky Derby, a new $200 million paddock was opened. This new area also features images of past Derby winners.
In February 2025, the track announced plans for even more big projects, including a rebuilt grandstand and new structures in the infield. However, these large projects were postponed due to rising construction costs. Instead, smaller renovations to the Finish Line suites and Trophy Room are planned to be finished before the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
People Who Shaped Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs has had many important leaders and voices over the years.
Chief Executive Officers
Since 1875, 12 people have served as the CEO of Churchill Downs:
- M. Lewis Clark (1875–1894)
- William F. Schulte (1895–1901)
- Charles F. Grainger (1902–1917)
- Johnson N. Camden Jr. (1918–1927)
- Samuel Culbertson (1928–1937)
- Matt Winn (1938–1949)
- Bill Corum (1950–1958)
- Wathen Knebelkamp (1959–1970)
- Lynn Stone (1970–1984)
- Thomas H. Meeker (1984–2006)
- Robert L. Evans (2006–2014)
- William C. Carstanjen (2014–present)
Track Announcers
These are some of the voices who have called the races at Churchill Downs:
- Gene Schmidt (1940–1960)
- Chic Anderson (1961–1977)
- Mike Battaglia (1978–1996, and later as a fill-in)
- Kurt Becker (1997–1998)
- Luke Kruytbosch (1999–2008)
- Travis Stone (2015–present)
TV Personalities
Many people have also reported on the races from Churchill Downs for television:
- John Asher (1997–2018)
- Mike Battaglia (1997–2007, and still sets the odds)
- Donna Barton Brothers (1999–2002)
- Jill Byrne (2004–2014)
- Joe Kristufek (2015–present)
- Kaitlin Free (2021–present)
- Tony Calo (2024–present)
- Kevin Kilroy (2024–present)
More to Explore
- Kentucky Derby Festival
- Kentucky Derby top four finishers
- Kentucky Oaks top three finishers
- List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
- List of graded stakes at Churchill Downs
- Road to the Kentucky Derby
- Road to the Kentucky Oaks
- South Louisville
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
