Kentucky Derby History

One of throughbred horse racings Visa Triple Crown events, the Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday of May each year. Horse racing in Kentucky has a deep history, dating back to 1789 when the first race course was built in Lexington. However, it was not until 1875, that Churchill Downs officially opened and began its tradition as "Home of the Kentucky Derby."

The Kentucky Derby is the most famous and prestigous horse races in the world. It is the first leg of the United States Triple Crown. Churchill Downs 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 in the late 1800's 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, which is the current length of the dirt track.

The first leg in the pursuit of the Visa Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is viewed by many as the most exciting 2 minutes in sports. The two spires atop the homestretch grandstands were added in 1895 and remain one of the most recognized structures in all of sports.

Be sure to order your Kentucky Derby tickets early. Ticket Solutions has you covered!

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