Historical Marker

Churchill Downs

Historical marker location:

Louisville, Kentucky

( 700 Central Ave., Louisville)

Home of the Kentucky Derby, the oldest continuously held sporting event in America, for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Aristides, owned by H.P. McGrath & ridden by black jockey Oliver Lewis, won the 1st Derby in 1875. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of explorer Wm. Clark, named and modeled the Ky. Derby after English Epson Derby.

Reverse

The track, owned by the Churchill family, was named in the 1880s. Twin spires, designed by J. Baldez, were built in 1895. Pari-mutuel betting machines were introduced in 1908. Other track events were state fairs, band concerts, auto and airplane races, military horse and tank shows, and a train wreck. First radio broadcast, 1925; first television broadcast, 1949.