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