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