National Historic Landmark

Churchill Downs

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Listed
November 15, 1978
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001348

About this property

Churchill Downs is a thoroughbred horse racing complex in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Since its opening in 1875, it has hosted the annual Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown, as well as the Kentucky Oaks. The venue is named after the Churchill family, prominent in Kentucky for many years. Churchill Downs has also hosted the Breeders' Cup on nine occasions, most recently on November 2 and 3, 2018. The racetrack is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. 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 (HANA) introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America, which ranked Churchill Downs number 5 on its list. In 2014, prior to the start of their spring meet, Churchill Downs announced an increase in parimutuel takeout rates. As a result of the takeout increase, Churchill Downs ranked number 22 in that year's HANA Track Ratings.

Location

700 Central Ave.
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
38.20217, -85.77131

Categories

INDUSTRYENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Oakdale District
Industrial
0.3 mi
Goose, Roscoe, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Immanuel Chapel Protestant Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.5 mi
Most Blessed Sacrament School
Industrial
0.6 mi
Steam Engine Company No. 20
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Morgan's Raid into Indiana
1863Civil War
6.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Churchill Downs listed on the National Register?

Churchill Downs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Churchill Downs?

Churchill Downs is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Churchill Downs a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Churchill Downs has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Churchill Downs?

The period of significance for Churchill Downs is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Churchill Downs?

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