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
Cherokee Run notable and promising young colts was Chelokee, who won the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup and Barbaro Stakes before suffering a career-ending injury in the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs, on May 2, 2008. Chedi, a 2007 Virginia bred gelding, out of Doctoressa (Doc's Leader), set a new track record at Colonial Downs on July 6, 2011 going 1 mile in 1:34.3. Cherokee Run was euthanised because of "the infirmities of old age" on 2 July 2016. Cherokee Run Cherokee Run (March 15, 1990 - July 2, 2016) is an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was bred by George Onett