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
Louisville Handicap first female to win this race. † In 2002, Two Point Two Mill won but was disqualified after an incident in the stretch and set back to eighth place. The disqualification resulted in the Dead Heat. Louisville Handicap The Louisville Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the latter part of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Raced on turf, it is open to horses age three and older and since 2006 has been contested at a distance of miles (12 furlongs). The Grade III Louisville Handicap currently carries a purse of $100,000. Since its inauguration