Churchill Downs to help him run the rack was Col. Matt Winn of Louisville. Churchill Downs prospered and the Kentucky Derby then became the preeminent stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses in North America. During that early period, a new clubhouse was built in order to promote social interaction, and new events such as steeplechases, automobile races, and band concerts were held at the track. The State Fair was held on the grounds, featuring the odd spectacle of two locomotives being intentionally crashed head-on in the infield. On June 5, 1907, African American jockey James Lee set a record that has never
Manor Downs for a pari-mutuel license. Manor Downs was licensed as a class 2 racetrack in Texas. A class 2 racetrack is a racetrack on which racing is conducted for no more than 44 days in a calendar year. Manor Downs has also been the site for concerts through the years including Farm Aid 2 and the Grateful Dead. As horse racing's popularity waned with the slow economy of the late-2000s recession, Manor Downs ceased operations in late July 2010 rather than continue losing money. The following graded stakes were run at Manor Downs: Manor Downs Manor Downs was a horse racetrack