| p>Any horse racing lover worth his or her weight | | | | the final spot for the track--sold 320 |
| knows about Churchill Downs. This legendary track | | | | memberships to Churchill Downs. These |
| is rich with memorable horse racing moments. | | | | memberships we sold at the whopping cost of |
| The track was and is home to top horses from | | | | $100 each. At the time, $100 was a good deal of |
| all over the country--even the world. To say that | | | | money. |
| the horse racing action at Churchill Downs is loved | | | | Today, the Churchill Downs is owned and |
| by all would be a grave understatement. In the | | | | operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI). |
| world of horse racing, Churchill Downs is a | | | | They run many horse racing tracks around the |
| masterpiece. | | | | country, including: Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, |
| Churchill Downs has a slow beginning. The famed | | | | Calder Race Course, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds Race |
| Kentucky Jockey Club was formed in 1809. | | | | Course and Hoosier Park. All of these tracks have |
| However, some 70 years would pass before the | | | | one thing in common--they are great horse racing |
| first glorious race at Churchill Downs would actually | | | | tracks. |
| take place. Even the most casual of horse racing | | | | Did you know that the Kentucky Derby was first |
| fans are familiar with the Triple Crown. One of | | | | televised in 1952? That's when the famous race |
| the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby, is | | | | really got a boost. It was the 77th running of the |
| held each year at Churchill Downs. At a time | | | | Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby has always |
| when race relations in the USA were not the | | | | been a solid race, and today it's one of the |
| best, it was a bit ironic that jockey Oliver Lewis | | | | biggest. Each year the purse is normally |
| who was an African American won the very first | | | | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Popular and legendary |
| Kentucky Derby. | | | | horse, Smarty Jones, won the Kentucky Derby |
| Back in 1883, the name "Churchill Downs" first | | | | at Churchill Downs back in 2004. It was special in |
| appeared in a newspaper article. However, it | | | | that the purse, some $6,000,000, was double the |
| would take until 1937 for the track to officially | | | | amount in 2005. It just shows you what an |
| incorporate the soon to be legendary name. To | | | | exciting horse can do for the sport. |
| raise fund for the track, Clark--who decided on | | | | |