America’s most well-known horse racetrack is Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The track’s familiarity to those that follow horseracing and to those that have only a passing interest can largely be credited to the fact that it hosts the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. Some of the greatest horses, jockeys, and trainers have competed beneath the fabled Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.

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Churchill Downs History

In 1874, John and Henry Churchill leased 80 acres to Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the grandson of the famed explorer, William Clark, and the very next year the new horseracing venue known as Churchill Downs hosted the first Kentucky Derby. Its location at that time was very rural and near a railroad spur which allowed for the convenient transport of horses. Clark preferred longer races, but shorter races were becoming more popular and Clark began to lose money on his venture. After running short of funds Clark sold the track in 1893 to a syndicate led by William Applegate. Applegate is responsible for many of the changes that have become synonymous with Churchill Downs. He shortened the Kentucky Derby to 1 ¼ miles, built the famous Twin Spires over the grandstand, and created the tradition of giving the Kentucky Derby winner a garland of roses.

It wasn’t until Colonel Matt Winn of Louisville took over the track in the early 1900’s that it began to establish the Kentucky Derby as America’s premier stakes race for three-year old horses. As gambling became less controversial and pari-mutuel betting was introduced to the track, the prosperity of Churchill Downs increased. Other events, including the State Fair, began to be held at the track.

Handicapping Churchill Downs Beyond the Derby

Churchill Downs is much more than the Kentucky Derby — it hosts two major annual meets (spring and fall) plus a separate Derby week card, all of which provide excellent betting opportunities for bettors who understand the track’s specific characteristics. The one-mile oval with its notoriously tight turns rewards horses that handle the configuration well, and form earned at Churchill is generally reliable when horses subsequently move to other tracks with similar configurations. Post position bias varies across distances and rail positions, with inside draws historically advantageous in sprint races and less impactful in longer routes where horses have time to settle into position.

The fall meet at Churchill Downs, running through November, attracts a strong selection of horses being pointed at final-season championships and horses coming off strong summer campaigns. This concentration of quality creates competitive fields that provide genuine handicapping challenges, and the Breeders’ Cup — when hosted at Churchill, as it was in 2018 and 2020 — generates the highest-quality racing the track sees. For bettors who follow Churchill across its full racing calendar, developing track-specific knowledge of the surface characteristics, leading local connections, and seasonal patterns produces genuine advantages over bettors who only engage with the track during Derby week. For more on Kentucky racing, our articles on horse racing tracks in Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Park provide comprehensive coverage. And our guide to understanding track bias covers Churchill’s specific bias patterns.

Churchill Downs Today

Churchill Downs is still most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday each May. Horseracing luminaries and celebrities of all kinds converge on Louisville during the Kentucky Derby for a week-long celebration that includes parties, concerts, and a parade.

Two race meets are held at Churchill Downs each year. The spring meet which presents the Kentucky Derby typically begins in April and lasts until June. The fall meet is runs from September through November.

Because of its legendary status, Churchill Downs has been a regular host of the Breeder’s Cup. Top jockeys that regularly compete at Churchill Downs include Calvin Borel, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, and Corey Lanerie. Top trainers at Churchill Downs include Dale Romans, Ken McPeek, and Cecil Borel.

You can visit the Churchill Downs website here: http://www.churchilldowns.com and the address is the following: 700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208. Main phone: 502.636.4400 

Stakes Races at Churchill Downs

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

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