Horse racing, a sport and pastime for many in the state of Kentucky, first came to Louisville, KY in 1872 with the return of Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark from a trip to Europe. Kentucky, having a great tradition of horse breeding dating back to the late 1700s, needed a way to showcase the ability of these horses. Inspired by his visit to the Epsom Derby in England, he decided to bring a horse racing tradition to Kentucky. This sparked the inspiration to construct a horse track with the name Churchill Downs, named after his uncles John and Henry Churchill who leased him the land.
Opening day, May 17, 1875, featured 3 major races: The Kentucky Derby, The Kentucky Oaks and The Clark Handicap; modeled after the 3 major stakes races at the Epsom Derby. With a crowd of 10,000 people, the opening day was a success. Crossing the finish line first in the first race ever at Churchill Downs was Bonaventure. Later, that day, one of the greatest traditions in sports was first conducted: The Kentucky Derby. Crossing the line in first Kentucky Derby was Aristides, a three-year-old colt from McGrathiana Farms near Lexington, KY. Every year since, on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby has been run.
Since then, the three major stakes races have been moved to their own day. The Kentucky Oaks is on the first Friday in May, The Kentucky Derby is the day after Oaks and the Clark Handicap, now known as the Clark Stakes, is run in late November each year. Each day has multiple races to last nearly the entire day. Also, The Kentucky Derby is a major cultural event in Louisville as there is a festival named after it. Events such as The Great Steamboat Race (featuring the Belle of Louisville), the Pegasus Parade and the largest annual firework show in North America, Thunder over Louisville, which kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival, all prelude the race over two weeks.
This photo was taken at a common horse racing meet in 2021. Horse racing here at Churchill Downs starts in May and lasts through November each year. I do not know the name of the horse in the photo, but it is a large Thoroughbred who placed second in its race. Also, this photo was taken by the Paddock where horses meet to prepare for the race. A bugler plays “Assembly of the Buglers” as the call to the post, or to notify the jockeys and trainers that it is time to move from the paddock to the starting gate. Bettors can stand near the stable to view the horses prior to a race.
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