Churchill Newcomb of John Churchill and William Henry Churchill who donated the land for Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. Engaging in the family pastime, Newcomb attended horse shows. In 1928, he attended a breakfast of notables at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden that featured Governor Al Smith as the guest of honor. Newcomb also owned a chestnut mare named Friskie that he raced in horse racing events in Kentucky and Virginia. In 1928, Friskie won the hunter trophy at the Orange Horse Show in Orange, Virginia. Friskie also captured the first leg on a challenge cup
Eureka Downs adjacent to the track to extend the track and build a 440-yard straightaway section to run American Quarter Horse races. The track also held Greyhound racing events on certain race days. The original grandstand burned in 1964 and was replaced. The Downs was funded by entry fees, concessions, stable fees, and spectator tickets, and much of the labor at the track was provided by volunteers. At the track's peak in the 1970s, purse distribution was over $150,000 for the Futurity race date. Over time, however, interest in the sport declined and the track struggled to remain profitable. In 1986, Kansas