| Kentucky Derby - History |
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous and prestigous horse races in the world. It is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of horse racing. Churchill Downs where the race is held the first Saturday in May reach year, was started by a group headed by a man named M. Lewis Clark in 1874. The group built the racetrack on land owned by the Churchill family of Louisville, Kentucky. The track officially opened on May 17, 1875 and that was the day of the first Kentucky Derby won by Aristides.
The races from 1875-1895 were modeled after the English Derby and were 1.5 miles long. In 1896 they changed the length of the Kentucky Derby to 1.25 miles, and this is the current length of the dirt surface track.
However, the Derby was just another regional race until 1902, when Colonel Matt J. Winn took over the track. Although he had seen every Kentucky Derby since the beginning, Winn knew little about horse racing or running tracks. But he was a very good promoter.
After raising money to save Churchill Downs from bankruptcy, Winn began making frequent trips to New York, then the center of American racing, to persuade owners to enter their horses in the Kentucky Derby. His persistence paid off. By 1920, the Derby had become the best-known race in North America and it was attracting the top three-year-olds from all over the country.
Today as the first leg in the pursuit of the Triple Crown the Kentucky Derby is viewed by many as the most exciting two minutes in sports. The twin spires atop the homestretch grandstands were added in 1895 and remain one of the most recognized structures in all of sports.
The races from 1875-1895 were modeled after the English Derby and were 1.5 miles long. In 1896 they changed the length of the Kentucky Derby to 1.25 miles, and this is the current length of the dirt surface track.
However, the Derby was just another regional race until 1902, when Colonel Matt J. Winn took over the track. Although he had seen every Kentucky Derby since the beginning, Winn knew little about horse racing or running tracks. But he was a very good promoter.
After raising money to save Churchill Downs from bankruptcy, Winn began making frequent trips to New York, then the center of American racing, to persuade owners to enter their horses in the Kentucky Derby. His persistence paid off. By 1920, the Derby had become the best-known race in North America and it was attracting the top three-year-olds from all over the country.
Today as the first leg in the pursuit of the Triple Crown the Kentucky Derby is viewed by many as the most exciting two minutes in sports. The twin spires atop the homestretch grandstands were added in 1895 and remain one of the most recognized structures in all of sports.
I was headed to wikipedia, but i figured you would have it copied n pasted here. Fascinating stuff!!
ReplyDelete;(
So glad you gave us the click instead!!! ;)
ReplyDelete