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 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 in 1895, two horses have won this race three times, both accomplishing the rare feet in consecutive years. Chorwon did it from 1997 to 1999 and Silverfoot from 2004 to 2006. In 2011, Keertana became the