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