The rolling hills and ample bluegrass of Kentucky has always presented an ideal place to raise and race horses.  There were four racetracks operating in the city of Louisville before the turn of the century.

The Kentucky Derby is a world-renowned sporting event.  The legendary racetrack and America’s longest continuously running sporting event began in May of 1875 with Aristides’ victory over 14 3-year-olds.  It did not take long for people outside of Louisville to pay attention.  Eight years later the track was officially named “Churchill Downs.”  In another 20 years Twin Spires topped a new grandstand.  Within the next eight years the racetrack became profitable and 50 years before the Derby it earned its “Run for the Roses” moniker.

The Churchill Downs racetrack was organized as a Kentucky corporation in 1928 and officially became known as Churchill Downs Incorporated in 1942.

In 1902, Matt Winn became leader of the struggling facility and eventually brought the racetrack and its signature race to a level of international acclaim.  Winn is credited with making the Kentucky Derby what it is today, which is a leader in providing Thoroughbred racing across the nation.

Churchill Downs Incorporated started from an 80-acre plot of land leased from Col. Clark’s two uncles, John and Henry Churchill and has evolved into a true champion of the industry.  The racetrack was built in part to support the state’s growing breeding industry.  Churchill Downs Incorporated has matured into a racing and entertainment company with multiple racetracks, superior and supporting horsemen throughout the country.  Churchill Downs’ signature racing events represent the pinnacle for horse racing everywhere.   It is rare to find anyone dealing in horses that have not heard of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.  The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest events in Kentucky and is renown nationwide.

2008 Kentucky Oaks and Derby General Information

The 134th 2008 Kentucky Oaks and Derby will be on Friday, May 2nd and Saturday May 3rd.  The gates will open at 8:00 a.m. on Oaks and Derby Day.  The first post time is at 11:00 a.m. (EST).  The Oaks race will be at 5:45 p.m. and the Derby at 6:04 p.m. (EST).

The official hotel for Churchill Downs is the Galt House & Suites for the 2008 races.  Reservations can

Race Admission Ticket Prices

General admission tickets for Oaks and Derby Day allow access into the Paddock and Infield areas, but are not accompanied with a seat.  General admission is $25.00 per person on Oaks and $40.00 per on Derby.  Children under 12 are admitted FREE when accompanied by an adult.

It is advisable to bring an extra layer of clothing such as a sweater, cardigan or jacket and check the local forecast before coming to the track to know how better to dress.  Some of the facilities are outdoors and others are indoors.  The Oaks and Derby races continue regardless of weather unless the jockeys or their horses are in danger due to the weather.

Dress Code

Churchill downs has a dress code for specific areas on Oaks and Derby Day.  The Turf Club and Suite areas do not allow denim wear, shorts or tennis shoes.  The millionaires Row venue prefers business casual dress.  Absolutely no worn or torn garments, tank tops, or midriff tops.  Many guests still arrive dressed in fancy hats to keep the Kentucky Derby hat tradition alive.  For more information about the dress code contact the Group Sales Department or Admissions Department.

Parking

All parking for 2008 Oaks and Derby Day is reserved for those individuals who have purchased a valid Oaks and Derby parking permit.  Additional parking will be offered at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for $10.00 per vehicle.  TARC will provide shuttle service from the stadium to the racetrack free of charge.  RV’s are not allowed access into any parking lot at Churchill Downs.  They are allowed to park at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

This year’s Official Limousine Company for Kentucky Oaks and Derby is the Cosmopolitan Limousine Company.  They can be reached at 502-966-5466.

Source:  Churchill Downs Tour Guide

Important Disclaimer:  The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.  This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.

Written by:  Connie Limon.  For more vacation ideas visit http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas  For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

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© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved