Churchill Downs Incorporated Rous and France's Vicomte Darn, vice president of the French Jockey Club. Upon his return from Europe, Clark began development of his racetrack, which would serve to showcase the Kentucky breeding industry. The track would eventually become known as Churchill Downs. The track formally opened on May 17, 1875, with four races scheduled including the day's featured race, the Kentucky Derby. Throughout the early 1900s, Churchill Downs joined with other tracks to create the Kentucky Jockey Club. With five tracks, the Club decided to dissolve in December 1927, with the purpose of re-organizing. In January 1928, the American Turf Association
Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs) ranking number 44 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs) The Ack Ack Handicap is a Grade III race for Thoroughbred horses run annually during the first week of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to horses aged three and up, it is contested at a distance of 8 furlongs (one mile) on the dirt. Since inception in 1991, the Ack Ack Handicap has been contested at three different distances: The race is named for the great Ack Ack, inducted into the National Museum of