Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for annually hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs has also hosted the renowned Breeders' Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018. Churchill Downs Incorporated owns and operates the racetrack. With the infield open for the Kentucky Derby, the capacity of Churchill Downs is roughly 170,000. In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a
Cardinal Handicap of $100,000. Cardinal Handicap The Cardinal Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during its fall meet. The Grade III Cardinal is open to fillies and mares three-years-old and up and set at a distance of one and one eighth mile on the turf. At its current distance of nine furlongs, Miss Caerleona holds the record of 1:47.81. The 2017 edition of the race, won by Tricky Escape, was run on dirt as the turf course was deemed unfit for racing. The race's Gr.III status was kept for 2017. It currently offers