“In just two minutes, legends are born, hearts race, and history gallops past the finish line.”
-Unknown
Each spring, all horse racing fans look to Churchill Downs where history is made, dreams are realized, and the power of 20 horses thundering down the final stretch at full gallop prompt the roar of 170,000 spectators that will get you out of your seat and raise your blood pressure!
In the middle of downtown Louisville, Churchill Downs is the home of the Kentucky Derby, the longest continually-held annual sporting event in the United States and known as the fastest two minutes in sports. The Kentucky Derby has been run since 1875 and is a mile and a quarter in length. The day is about the races and the wagering, but also about the party with 127,000 Mint Juleps served, 7,800 liters of Burbon served, 522,000 cans of beer consumed, 163,000 hot dogs and 22,000 Barbecue sandwiches eaten, and 49,200 Debry pies sold!
A life-long Derby fan, I was finally able to have the chance to visit this passion place and I was not disappointed. Our visit was in early April, only a few weeks before the racing season actually kicked off, so Churchill Downs did not have large crowds and off season building projects were furiously being finished up as the track prepared to welcome race fans.
Visiting Churchill Downs
The most obvious activity to take part in at Churchill Downs is to soak in the excitement of the races, placing bets on your favorite horse, and enjoying all the food and drink available, but if like us, you plan your visit in the off season, there is still plenty to do.
We started our time at the track in the Kentucky Derby Museum where we began our experience watching a 18-minute media experience about the Derby. This experience starts at 10 minutes after the hour, every hour and is shown on an oval screen that rings the room, surrounding you with the owners, trainers, horses, and the spirit of the legendary Kentucky Derby.
Following the movie, we took a tour called “Superstars and Spires.” This guided tour took us to areas of the track that are typically not open to the public such as Millionaire’s Row, the Stakes Room, and the Turf Club. This tour gave us a bird’s eye view of the entire track and an up close view of Churchill Downs’ famous spires. Our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we explored Churchill Downs from track side to the tips of the spires.
Other available tours include a guided track visit, Barn and Backside Tour, Thoroughbred Workout Tour, Black Heritage in Racing Tour, Bourbon and Bridles Experience, Backstretch Workout Tour, Ultimate Churchill Downs Tour, Go Baby Go! Race Day Experience, and Hermitage Farm and Derby Museum Tour. To choose the experience you would like to have, tour availability is listed at www.derbymuseum.org.
After our tour, we had lunch in the Derby Cafe and explored the Kentucky Derby Museum. The museum is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the history of the Kentucky Derby. The museum is very interactive and has exhibits dedicated to the current Derby champion, fashions of the Derby, an exhibit dedicated to the great Secretariat, and the history of Churchill Downs, among many other learning points.
The museum is located next to Churchill Downs and offers free parking. Be sure to carefully check the calendar on the website as you plan your visit. Seasonal hours are listed on the website and the museum is closed Thursday through Saturday of Derby weekend, set holidays, or may close early for private parties.
From a young age, I have been in love with horses and every year on the first Saturday of May, I have stood too close to my TV, turned the volume up a little too loud, and screamed for my race day pick as if my wallet will benefit in some way. Thankfully, my husband always patiently leaves me to my annual obsession and that he enthusiastically took me all the way to Louisville where we enjoyed our time at the track.
If you have an opportunity, I encourage you to visit and if you don’t mind crowds, I can’t imagine how exciting it is to enjoy Churchill Downs on race day!
Let’s Just Go! 