Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:700 Central Ave
Louisville, Kentucky
Our Sports Superfan Says:
It is the home of America's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby. On the first Saturday of each May, more than 150,000 people gather under the famous twin spires at Churchill Downs for the "Run for the Roses," watching the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world race for one and one-quarter miles in what is also called "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports."
With its tradition of mint juleps, and big hats on the ladies, the Derby, the first leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, is one of the biggest attractions in all of sports. Before the race, there is a two-week festival at Churchill Downs, the largest event in the state of Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby Festival includes a balloon race, steamboat race, parades, and other fun events.
On Derby weekend, another major race, the Kentucky Oaks, is held on Friday. The Oaks is for fillies, or female horses, and is one of the most highly attended races in the country. But nothing matches the spectacle of the Kentucky Derby itself, held since Churchill Downs opened in 1875. In recent years major celebrities have attended the race, including her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The spring-summer racing season runs from Derby week to July, and the fall season from October to Thanksgiving, with a number of big-time graded stakes races taking place here throughout the season. The Breeders' Cup Classic is also sometimes held here, as is the occasional concert.
The track underwent a major renovation between 2001-05, as the clubhouse was redone, luxury suites added, and the famous twin spires along the grandstand refurbished. The track was designated a national historic landmark in 1986. Guests at the track can visit the Kentucky Derby Museum, which has permanent exhibits on thoroughbred racing, including the history of African-Americans in the sport. There are walking tours of the grounds, interactive displays, and a 360-degree high-definition film, "The Greatest Race," about the Kentucky Derby. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday-Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed during Derby Weekend, when the Breeders Cup is in town, and on Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the track can be reached on public transit via TARC's Route 4 bus.