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FAQs

What is Churchill Downs used for? ›

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.

It is named for John and Henry Churchill who leased 80 acres of land to their nephew , Colonel Merriwether Lewis Clark , in 1874 . Lewis Clark was the president of Louisville Jockey Club formed that year . The racetrack officially opened in 1875 .

Track Casual

Vests, shirts with collars, sweaters, dresses, pantsuits, dress jeans, dress shorts and slacks are appropriate, as are golf shorts and capris. Don'ts: Worn or torn garments, crop or midriff tops, athletic wear, swim wear, frayed or torn denim, and flip-flops are considered inappropriate attire.

Churchill Downs Racetrack conducts Thoroughbred horse racing in Louisville, Kentucky during three race meets in Spring, September and Fall. The racetrack occupies 175 acres, featuring a one-mile dirt, oval racetrack and a seven-furlong turf racecourse.

Tickets can be purchased directly from the Kentucky Derby official website. An Infield General Admission ticket, which gets you in the door, costs $130. This is as basic as basic admission gets for the Derby.

Salary Ranges for Horse Jockey

The salaries of Horse Jockeys in The US range from $14,168 to $936,869 with a median salary of $62,783. Most of Horse Jockey make between $53,130 to $67,228.

Did you know there's a vibrant community of horses and horsem*n who live and work on the Backside of Churchill Downs? (Yes, there's even a church onsite!) In this guided van tour, you'll ride among the signature green-roofed barns that are home to 1,400 horses during the racing and training season.

Known as the home of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, Churchill Downs Racetrack conducts Thoroughbred horse racing in Louisville, Kentucky, during three race meets in the Spring, September and the Fall. See everything Churchill Downs has to offer by visiting www.churchilldowns.com.

In 2018 when Derby City Gaming opened, Churchill Downs' total racing prize purse for the year was nearly $39 million. This year, it will top $86 million, including $5 million for the Kentucky Derby (compared to $2 million for the Belmont Stakes and $1.5 million for The Preakness).

Is Churchill Downs a grass track? ›

This historic racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky features a one-mile, dirt oval main track that's 120 feet wide and an inside 7/8ths of a mile turf track that's 80 feet wide. To improve the turf track, they brought in one of the top turf experts in the country.