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3 unusual facts about Churchill Downs


Churchill Downs

Besides the heat and poor seating, many blamed the lineup of artists, calling them "washed up acts from the state fair circuit." While headliners Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, and Kenny Chesney drew large crowds, other acts that filled slots during the day did not.

Kentucky Oaks top three finishers

This is a listing of the horses that finished in either first, second, or third place and the number of starters in the Kentucky Oaks, the first leg of the defacto American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, an American Grade 1 race for three year-old fillies at 1-1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr.

Their son, Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., would become a prominent member of Louisville society, promoting horseracing and building, with help from his Churchill relations, the famous racetrack Churchill Downs.


American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing

The most popular proposal of races to compose a "Triple Tiara" series are the Kentucky Oaks, run at Churchill Downs in Louisville; the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore; and the Acorn Stakes, run at Belmont Park.

David Junior

David Junior's final race was the Breeders' Cup Classic, which ended in disappointment, as he failed to cope with the dirt at Churchill Downs and finished tailed-off behind Invasor.

Kenneth McPeek

Kenny currently races primarily at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga, as well as keeping a division at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington.

Luke Kruytbosch

He was best known as the on-track public-address voice of Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby from 1999 until his death.

Miesque

She returned to the U.S. to defend her Breeders Cup title at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and once again was up against a very strong field of older males including Belmont Stakes winner Bet Twice and the Daniel Wildenstein-owned champion, Steinlen.

Mike Manganello

Citing safety concerns, in 1968 Manganello was part of a group of jockeys competing at Churchill Downs who signed an informal agreement declaring that they would not compete against Penny Ann Early who was trying to become the first female jockey to ride in a race at a major racetrack in the United States.

Molly and Tenbrooks

This song is a fictional account of the July 4, 1878 match race between the Kentucky horse Ten Broeck and the California mare Mollie McCarty at the Louisville Jockey Club (now Churchill Downs).

Perfect Drift

He went home to live out his life at Stonecrest Farms in Kansas City, Missouri, home of his breeder, but will spend summers at the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs.


see also

Ginger Punch

In May, she won an allowance race at Churchill Downs, then on June 16 at Belmont Park in New York, under jockey David Flores, she finished second by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile Ogden Phipps Handicap.

Michael Wrona

On November 11, 2008, as one of five announcers invited to audition for the job at Churchill Downs, Wrona called all seven of Julien Leparoux's winners.

Opening Verse

Entered in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile, held that year at Churchill Downs, Opening Verse was up against what racecaller Tom Durkin described as "an exceptionally strong field" with stars such as Priolo, the French Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, and In Excess, the American Horse of the Year contender and betting favorite who came into the race having won four Grade 1 races that year.

Tampa Bay Downs

In 2007, Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger brought his 3-year-old Street Sense to Oldsmar for the Tampa Bay Derby, and the colt's victory was a springboard to his win in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.