| The state of Kentucky has a history of horse racing | | | | symbolize Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. |
| dating to 1787. The first races were run in a park in | | | | The reported cost of building the grandstands was |
| Lexington. Due to complaints from safety minded | | | | 100,000. Nine Derby's were run before the track |
| citizens the first racecourse was established at a | | | | became referred to as Churchill Downs in the local |
| place known as The Commons. In 1783 races were | | | | Louisville newspaper. |
| run on Market St. | | | | The Kentucky Derby is limited to three year old |
| In 1805 racing moved to Shippingport Island, an | | | | thoroughbreds both fillies and colts. In 1896 the course |
| abandoned island in the Ohio River. This course was | | | | was shortened from the original 1.5 miles to 1.25 miles, |
| known as Elm Tree Gardens. In 1809 a group of men | | | | the reasoning being that the old course was too long |
| including the statesman Henry Clay formed a group | | | | for three year olds in the spring. In 1899 a real tragedy |
| known as the Downs. It was renamed the Jockey | | | | occurred, with the suicide by pistol of M Lewis Clark. |
| Club the same year. In 1827 races were run on Main | | | | This was the year that the 25th Derby was run. |
| St in Louisville. | | | | During this period of time several other events were |
| In 1858 the course was moved to Woodlawn which | | | | staged at Churchill Downs including the staged collision |
| was closed in 1870. The trophy known as the | | | | of two locomotives in 1902 at the first Kentucky State |
| Woodlawn vase has been presented to the winner of | | | | Fair before a crowd of 40,000-50,000 spectators. |
| the Preakness Stakes since 1917. | | | | Auto races were also run in 1908, 1910, and1912 .In 1902 |
| In 1872-1873 a young M. Lewis Clark visited England | | | | A Louisville tailor and other investors took over the |
| and France and studied racing practices on the | | | | track and spend 20,000 on renovations including the |
| continent and came up with the idea for an American | | | | addition of a clubhouse. |
| Jockey Club based on the European models. The | | | | This was successful because in 1903 Churchill Downs |
| French Jockey Club remains in existence today and is | | | | showed a profit for the first time. Ownership of the |
| arguably one of the most exclusive clubs its | | | | track went through several changes in ownership and |
| membership being limited to the nobility and the very | | | | management, including a 1960 attempt by the city of |
| wealthy. | | | | Louisville to purchase the track, but was turned down |
| Mr. Clark returned to America and established a | | | | by city alderman. This was finally settled in 1969 when |
| racetrack which would eventually become known as | | | | a group of Churchill board members successfully |
| Churchill Downs. The name comes from the surname | | | | thwarted a hostile takeover by National Industries and |
| of the Churchill family who originally owned the | | | | the price of their stock increased significantly. In 1997, In |
| property where the present track is located. In 1874 | | | | 1997 Churchill Downs Inc. formed the Churchill Downs |
| Mr. Clark and a group of prominent Louisville met and | | | | Investment Corp. to oversee the company's industrial |
| formed the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park | | | | investments. The corporation also owns several |
| association with the articles if incorporation being filed | | | | racetracks in many states. |
| on June 20. 1874. Originally Clark designed 3 major | | | | In 1984 major renovations were made to the aging |
| races, the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and | | | | facility headed by a former counsel and acting |
| the Clark Handicap. These were patterned after three | | | | president of Churchill Downs. These included 2.5 million |
| English races, the Epsom Derby, Epson Oaks, and the | | | | for core renovations, 3.2 million for the Matt Winn Turf |
| St. Leger Stakes. | | | | Course, and 2.5 million for paddock construction, 5 |
| The track formally opened on May 17. 1875 and | | | | million for clubhouse improvements, 3.7 million for Skye |
| featured four races including the first Kentucky Derby | | | | terrace improvement, and 1.2 million for barn area |
| with a crowd of approximately 10.000 in attendance. | | | | improvements. In 1984 Meeker was named permanent |
| The first winner of the Kentucky Derby was Aristides | | | | president of Churchill Downs at age 40. Since then |
| who had been trained and ridden by two | | | | Churchill Downs Inc has continued renovations and |
| African-Americans Ansel Williamson and Oliver Lewis | | | | aggressively pursued other racing interests including |
| respectively. Aristides was a three year old colt | | | | the acquisition and building of other tracks. |
| owned by H.P.McGrath. | | | | In 1996 the Kentucky Derby entered cyberspace |
| Unfortunately despite the success of the first Derby | | | | launching a corporate site. The Kentucky Derby has |
| the track was not a success financially. This led to the | | | | kept up with technological advances over the years. |
| formation of the New Jockey Club in 1894 with Wm | | | | We may now watch the Derby on television, web |
| .Schulte as president and Clark retained as presiding | | | | casts, pay per view, from anywhere on the globe but |
| judge of the track. In 1894-1895 a new grandstand | | | | there is nothing equal to actually being there in person. |
| was constructed with twin spires which have come to | | | | |