Churchill Downs - wikipedia Churchill Downs This article is about the racetrack. For the operating company, see Churchill Downs Incorporated. For the community in Alabama, see Churchill Downs, Alabama. Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Logo Location Louisville, Kentucky, United States Owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated Date opened 1875 Screened on NBC ( Kentucky Derby ) Course type Flat Notable races Kentucky Derby Kentucky Oaks Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stephen Foster Handicap Clark Handicap Official website Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for annually hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders ' Cup on eight occasions, most recently in 2011. It is next scheduled to host the Breeders ' Cup in 2018. Churchill Downs Incorporated owns and operates the racetrack. With the infield open for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000. In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Churchill Downs was ranked number 5 on this list. In 2014, prior to the start of their spring meet, Churchill Downs announced an increase in parimutuel takeout rates. As a result of the takeout increase, Churchill Downs was ranked number 22 in the 2014 Horseplayers Association of North America Track Ratings. Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 TV personalities 4 Track announcers 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links History Thoroughbred racing at Churchill Downs The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased 80 acres ( 32 ha ) of land to their nephew, Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. ( grandson of explorer William Clark ). Clark was president of the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association, which formed in 1875. His father - in - law, Richard Ten Broeck, was an accomplished horse breeder and trainer, and introduced Clark to horse racing, attending the English Derby at Epsom Downs outside London. Composite image of Churchill Downs on Derby Day, 1902 Churchill Downs filled a void in Louisville left by the closing of Oakland and Woodlawn, two earlier race courses. The then - rural location was along Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks, allowing for easy transport of horses. Clark, who preferred longer races to the relatively short ones that had become popular by the 1890s, was running short of funds, and in 1894 sold the track to a syndicate led by William E. Applegate. The new ownership would soon institute many changes, such as commissioning the famous twin spire grandstand in 1895, shortening the length of the signature race to its modern 1 ⁄ miles ( 2.0 km ) in 1896, and adorning the winner of the Derby with a garland of roses, a tradition that also began in 1896. In early 1902, Applegate, who had made his fortune as a bookmaker, turned over the day - to - day operation of the track to Charles F. Grainger, then the mayor of Louisville, in an effort to move Churchill Downs away from being primarily known for gambling. Among the new people Applegate brought on board to help him run the rack was Col. Matt Winn of Louisville. Churchill Downs prospered and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three - year - old thoroughbred horses in North America. During that early period, a new clubhouse was built in order to promote social interaction, and new events such as steeplechases, automobile races, and band concerts were held at the track. The State Fair was held on the grounds, featuring the odd spectacle of two locomotives being intentionally crashed head - on in the infield. Churchill Downs -- with the University of Louisville Marching Band in the foreground -- during the 2006 Kentucky Derby. On June 5, 1907, African American jockey James Lee set a record that has never been beaten when he won the entire six - race card at Churchill Downs. In 1908, parimutuel betting machines were introduced as gambling began to be less controversial again, and the wagering portion of the track 's business became more profitable. Churchill Downs was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. On Friday, June 19, 2009, Churchill Downs hosted its first - ever night race with an attendance of over 27,000. Churchill Downs ventured into the music business, organizing the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival, held on the weekend of July 23 -- 25, 2010. The track had planned to make this an annual event to compete with other summer music festivals. HullabaLOU attracted 78,000 people but that fell short of the more than 100,000 expected by the company. The company attributed this to the brutal heat, but others cited high ticket prices in a poor economy. The entertainment division lost more than $5 million int its first year and was discontinued. On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, an EF2 tornado hit the Louisville area, striking the stables and chapel at Churchill Downs, though only at EF1 intensity at the time. Several stables were badly damaged, as was the chapel. Over 200 horses had to be evacuated from the damaged stables and be relocated to other stables that were not damaged by the tornado. The tornado did not cause any damage to the twin spires or the clubhouse. Thurby is a portmanteau for Thursday plus Derby, and this name for the Thursday racing in Derby week has been recognized by Churchill Downs since 2014. Facilities Churchill Downs front entrance gate Churchill Downs, spring meet 2014 The twin spires atop the grandstands are the most recognizable architectural feature of Churchill Downs and are used as a symbol of the track and the Derby. They were designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895. Today, Churchill Downs covers 147 acres ( 0.59 km ). The usual number of people seated at the derby is 50,000 people, though crowds can reach over 150,000 on Derby day. The dirt oval main track, on which the Derby is run, is one mile ( 1.6 km ) in circumference and is 79 -- 80 feet ( 24.1 -- 24.4 m ) wide, with a 120 - foot - wide ( 37 m ) section for the starting gate. A turf track, inside the main track, is ⁄ mile ( 1.4 km ) in circumference and 80 - foot ( 24 m ) wide. From 2001 to 2005, Churchill Downs underwent a three - and - a-half year, $121 million renovation. The clubhouse was replaced, 79 luxury suites were added, and the historic twin spires were refurbished. One of the additions in the clubhouse was a 36 - foot ( 11 m ) mural by Pierre Bellocq depicting all 96 jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 2004. In summer 2008 the same artist added another mural depicting all of the trainers and updating the Jockey 's painting, adding Calvin Borel and Edgar Prado to it. These updates are done yearly to accommodate new winning trainers and jockeys. The new design has been somewhat controversial since the new suites block full view of the spires from most angles. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders ' Cup eight times during the fall meet Racing at Churchill Downs occurs in three meets though for the majority of its existence there were only two meets per year. The spring meet starts one week before the Derby and continues until early July. The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May and the Kentucky Oaks is run on the Friday before the Derby. A fall meet picks up in late October and closes Thanksgiving weekend in late November. A third meet in September was added in 2013. In addition to the track, clubhouse and stables, Churchill Downs also contains the Kentucky Derby Museum which focuses on the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs. The museum also contains a number of exhibits exploring the training and racing of thoroughbred horses. It includes a 360 - degree cinema that shows the short film `` The Greatest Race, '' a documentary about the Kentucky Derby. The museum is normally open year - round. In October 2013, Churchill Downs began installing a new, ultra high - definition video board built by Panasonic, which became operational in time for the 2014 Kentucky Derby. Called `` The Big Board '', it measures 171 feet wide and 90 feet high, with the bottom edge 80 feet off the ground, and weighs 1.2 million pounds. It was constructed along the outside of the backstretch of the dirt course facing the grandstand and infield. At the time, it was the largest ultra high - definition video board ever constructed. At the same time, 750 speakers were installed around the track. Tv personalities John Asher ( 1997 -- 1998 the paddock show, CD Today a handicapping show 2007 -- present ) Mike Battaglia ( 1997 -- 2007 full - time, 2008 -- present as an occasional fill - in. Also the Tracks Morning Line Odds - Maker since 1974. ) Donna Barton Brothers ( 1999 -- 2002 ) Jill Byrne ( 2004 -- 2007 fill - in, 2008 -- present full - time ) Jessica Pacheco ( 2007 Derby week ) Joanne Jones ( 2007 Derby Week ) Joe Kristufek ( 2015 -- present full - time ) Track announcers Gene Schmidt ( 1940 -- 1960 ) Chic Anderson ( 1961 -- 1977 ) Mike Battaglia ( 1978 -- 1996, 2013 as a one - day fill - in, 2014 as a fill - in for Breeders Cup Weekend ) Kurt Becker ( 1997 -- 1998 ) Luke Kruytbosch ( 1999 -- 2008 ) Bobby Neuman ( October 26 -- November 2, 2008 ) Michael Wrona ( November 12 -- 16, 2008 ) John Asher ( November 16, 2008 ) Mark Johnson ( November 26 -- 29, 2008, 2009 -- 2013 ) Larry Collmus ( November 19 -- 23, 2008, 2014 ) Bill Downes ( 2014 as a fill - in ) Travis Stone ( November 5 -- 9, 2008, 2015 -- present ) See also 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 Kentucky Derby Festival Kentucky Derby top three finishers Kentucky Oaks top three finishers Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing Notes Jump up ^ `` Breeders ' Cup to return to Churchill Downs in 2018 ''. BreedersCup.com. Retrieved 25 April 2016. Jump up ^ `` Second - Highest Derby Attendance, Handle ''. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` HANA 2014 Track Ratings ''. Horseplayers Association of North America. Retrieved 22 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` A New Deal ''. The Courier - Journal. 7 August 1894. Jump up ^ Thomas, Samual ( 1995 ). Churchill Downs, A Documentary History of America 's Most Legendary Race Track. Louisville, Kentucky : Kentucky Derby Museum. pp. 94 -- 101. ISBN 0 - 9617103 - 2 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Churchill scraps HullabaLOU music fest, dissolves entertainment group ''. kentucky. Retrieved 22 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` June 22, 2011 Storm Damage Survey ''. NWS Louisville. Retrieved 26 June 2011. Jump up ^ Lovan, Dylan. `` Tornado strikes Kentucky Derby 's historic home Horse racing Chron.com - Houston Chronicle ''. Wayback.archive.org. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved 2013 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ Grace Schneider ( May 2, 2016 ). `` Oaks, Derby too crowded, expensive ? Try # Thurby ''. Courier Journal. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 15. In the last three years, Churchill Downs has made a... push... to give Thursday a shot... ( as a ) less expensive day to pair with the marquee racing dates ( Oaks and Derby ). Jump up ^ `` Derby Has Become A Carnival Of The Bizarre ''. Billyreedsays.com. 2006 - 05 - 02. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 07 - 13. Jump up ^ `` How the world 's largest 4K video screen infused new flair and tradition into the Kentucky Derby - TechRepublic ''. TechRepublic. Retrieved 22 June 2016. References Thomas, Samuel W. 1995. Churchill Downs : A Documentary History of America 's Most Legendary Race Track Schriener, Bruce. 2005. Historic track unveils $121 million facelift. Associated Press. April 28. External links Churchill Downs website Churchill Downs Ticket Office Kentucky Derby website Kentucky Oaks website Churchill Downs track page, NTRA Kentucky Derby Races 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 2017 2018 Related Churchill Downs Top 4 finishers Festival Museum Road to the Kentucky Derby `` My Old Kentucky Home '' Triple Crown Trophy Mint julep Derby Pie Kentucky Oaks Broadcasters `` The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved '' Kentucky Derby Winners Churchill Downs Inc. Florida Calder Illinois Arlington Park Kentucky Churchill Downs United Tote TwinSpires.com Louisiana Fair Grounds Race Course Maine Oxford Casino Maryland Ocean Downs ( 50 % ) Mississippi Harlow 's Casino Resort Riverwalk Casino and Hotel Ohio Miami Valley Gaming ( 50 % ) New York Saratoga Casino and Raceway ( 25 % ) Colorado Saratoga Casino Black Hawk ( 25 % ) Media Bluff Louisville, Kentucky ( metro area ) History Timeline George Rogers Clark -- founder Civil War Historic places Geography Downtown Cityscape Climate Local landmarks Neighborhoods Parks Preservation districts ( Old Louisville ) Government Mayor ( Greg Fischer ) Metro Council ( President : David James ) Transportation Bowman Field Louisville International Airport McAlpine Locks and Dam Roads TARC Other subject areas Attractions and events Cuisine Economy Education Media People Performing arts Religion Sports Top subjects Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali Center Cave Hill Cemetery Falls of the Ohio Farmington Kentucky Derby ( Festival ) KFC History Colonel Sanders L&N Louisville Slugger Speed Art Museum University of Louisville ( Cardinals ) National Historic Landmarks Belle of Louisville Churchill Downs Historic Locust Grove Mayor Andrew Broaddus Old Bank Zachary Taylor House United States Marine Hospital Water Tower Prominent suburbs ( over 10K pop. ) Clarksville Jeffersontown Jeffersonville Lyndon New Albany St. Matthews Shelbyville Shepherdsville Shively Category ( city ) Category ( metro area ) Portal WikiProject Coordinates : 38 ° 12 ′ 10.6 '' N 85 ° 46 ′ 12.1 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 38.202944 ° N 85.770028 ° W ﻿ / 38.202944 ; - 85.770028 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Architectural style categories Contributing property Historic district History of the National Register of Historic Places Keeper of the Register National Park Service Property types Lists by states Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Lists by insular areas American Samoa Guam Minor Outlying Islands Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Lists by associated states Federated States of Micronesia Marshall Islands Palau Other areas District of Columbia Morocco Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Churchill_Downs&oldid=842491884 '' Categories : Churchill Downs Horse racing venues in Kentucky Kentucky culture Kentucky Derby National Register of Historic Places in Louisville, Kentucky Tourist attractions in Louisville, Kentucky Churchill Downs Incorporated 19th - century buildings and structures in Louisville, Kentucky 1875 establishments in Kentucky National Historic Landmarks in Kentucky Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty Pages using deprecated image syntax Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Français 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 May 2018, at 20 : 19. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what part of kentucky is the kentucky derby in
Answer: Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in south Louisville