Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first Kentucky Derby, a Thoroughbred sweepstakes and part of today’s horse racing Triple Crown, and the first Kentucky Oaks were held in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders’ Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018.
The racetrack is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. With the infield open for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000.
The track was constructed on eighty acres of land that Clark leased from his uncles, John and Henry Churchill, approximately three miles south of downtown Louisville. Churchill Downs spans 147 acres with its most significant structure being the Twin Spires, an architectural feature that sits atop the grandstand and has become the universally recognized symbol for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.
In 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America, which ranked Churchill Downs number 5 on its list. Churchill Downs currently holds the record for the longest-running, continuous sporting event in the United States.
According to churchilldowns.com. Source of photo: internet
