Churchill Downs
N 38° 12.319 W 085° 46.298
16S E 607547 N 4229308
Home to the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel in the triple crown.
Waymark Code: WMGXT
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 07/09/2006
Views: 50
The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased 80 acres of land to their nephew, Colonel M. Lewis Clark (grandson of explorer William Clark). The track officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year.The twin spires atop the grandstands are the most recognizable architectural feature of Churchill Downs and are used as a symbol of the track and the Derby. They were designed by architect Joseph Dominic Baldez and built in 1895. Today, Churchill Downs covers 147 acres. Seating capacity is 51,000, though crowds at the Derby can reach over 140,000 because of standing-room only admission to the paddock and infield. The dirt oval main track, on which the Derby is run, is one mile in circumference and is 79 to 80 feet wide, with a 120-foot wide section for the starting
Street address:
700 Central Ave
Louisville, Ky United States
40208
County / Borough / Parish: Louisville (Jefferson County), Kentucky
Year listed: 1978
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture, and Engineering
Periods of significance: 1875 - 2006
Historic function: Sport and Recreation
Current function: Sports Facility
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 04/25/2015 To: 11/29/2015
Hours of operation: From: 8:00 AM To: 5:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: [Web Link]
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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