Guest Author - Beth Green

The Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville Kentucky was developed by M. Lewis Clark, grandson of William Clark, after a trip to England. Clark wanted to showcase Kentucky’s horse-breeding industry, so he formed the Louisville Jockey Club in 1874. He leased 80 acres of land from his uncles, Henry and John Churchill, and built a racetrack, grandstands and stables on the site.

The track formally opened to the public on May 17, 1875 with 4 races, the Falls City Derby, the Clark Handicap, Kentucky Oaks, and the highlight of the day, the Kentucky Derby, which was modeled after the Epsom Derby that Clark had attended while in England.

In 1895, a new grandstand was built, featuring the twin spires that are the symbol of the racetrack today. The track was also officially renamed Churchill Downs in this year.

A three-year-old horse named Aristides became the first winner of the Run for the Roses. Fifteen horses competed in the Derby that first year. The Kentucky Derby is limited to three year olds, and the field of competitors varies each year. The largest field ever to compete was in 1974, when there were 23 horses racing; the smallest field was in 1892 & 1905 when only three horses competed. The race is 1 ¼ miles long, and is often called the most exciting two minutes in sports.

The Kentucky Derby is held annually on the first Saturday in May. It is the longest continually running sporting event in America. It was first televised on May 3, 1952.

In 1919, the Derby became the first jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown, along with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Only eleven horses have won all three races since 1919. Forty-three horses have won two of the three races.

Several traditions have been born with the Derby. One of the most well-known of these traditions is the hats. When the first races were held, it was thought that the Derby would become a social event. Clark and other members of the Louisville Jockey Club are said to have gone to women’s clubs and invited the women to dress up in their finest and come to the Derby. In 1875, hats were a big part of ‘dressing in their finest’, and so the tradition of hats at the Derby was started. The hats today are silly, frilly and big. There are no rules or limits. Hats worn by the female spectators in the clubhouse and paddock areas are usually classy and fashionable; while the hats sported in the infield area are a little zanier. Many hats are custom-made and providing hats for Derby day has become big business.

The Mint Julep is another well-known Derby tradition. A mix of bourbon, mint, sugar syrup and crushed ice, the Mint Julep has been the official drink of the Kentucky Derby for over a century. Mint Juleps are relatively easy to make. Take 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water and boil for 5 minutes. Cool and place in a covered container, with 6-8 sprigs of fresh mint, and refrigerate overnight. Fill a chilled julep cup or glass with crushed ice; add one tablespoon of the mint syrup, and two ounces of a good Kentucky bourbon. Stir rapidly, garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve.