Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby, famous American annual horse race attended by more than 130,000 spectators and watched on television by millions of people. The Kentucky Derby has been run continuously at Churchill Downs racetrack, in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday of May since 1875, the year the track was built. The race is limited to horses three years of age. The distance for the race was 1 ½ mi (about 2.4 km) from 1875 to 1895; since 1896 the distance has been 1 ¼ mi (about 2.2 km). The record speed for the 1 ½ mi distance, 2 minutes 34 ½ seconds, was run by a horse named Spokane in 1889. The record for the 1 ¼ mi distance is 1 minute 59 2/5 seconds, set by Secretariat in 1973.
2005 Winner
Two jockeys, Eddie Arcaro and Bill
Hartack, have each ridden five Kentucky Derby winners. Eight of the winning
horses have been bred by Calumet Farm in Kentucky.
Text from Microsoft® Encarta®
the Track
Kentucky Derby since 1875
starting line
finish line
the winner's circle
the Stands
the Horses
where they wait for the race to start
the tunnel to the track
the Fans
the club house
observe the silks of the Jockeys
betting on the races
of course, a Mint Julep at Derby time
Resident Thoroughbred at the Museum
Photos from the Churchill Downs Museum
