Why is the kentucky derby so famous
History of the Kentucky Derby: A Short Documentary
[Music]
[Applause]
the Kentucky Derby surrounded by a
wealth of tradition and history is
touted as one of the greatest sporting
events in the world but for many people
it's more than just a sporting event the
Kentucky Derby has become a celebration
of Southern culture and an event
cemented in Kentucky history people from
all over the world gather at Churchill
Downs in Louisville Kentucky on the
first Saturday in May dressed to the
nines donning a beautiful hat all while
sipping a mint julep and singing my old
Kentucky home today the Kentucky Derby
is the longest-running sporting event in
the nation and has remained
uninterrupted since its debut in 1875
rain or shine the Derby continues it has
even persisted in times of hardship such
as the Great Depression World War one
and World War two it all began in 1872
while Meriwether Lewis Clark the
grandson of the famous explorer William
Clark was traveling in Europe Clark
attended the Epsom Derby in England
where he was inspired to open his own
racetrack in Louisville Clark wanted a
way for people to showcase the Kentucky
breeding industry and so after his
return from Europe he began the design
and development of his racetrack
thanks to the generosity of his uncle's
John and Henry Churchill who leased him
80 acres of their own land
Clark was able to build the track about
three miles south of downtown Louisville
with the help of his uncle's Clark
became the president of what is known as
the Louisville jockey club a club formed
by a number of wealthy horse race fans
who assisted Clark and raising the
needed support for the track the track
would later become known as Churchill
Downs in honor of Clark's uncles on May
17th 1875 the track was finally open to
the public and included a grandstand
Clubhouse and stables
however the grandstand we know today
which features the twin spires wasn't
introduced until 1895 the day's events
included four different races three of
which were created specifically for the
track's official grand opening these
included the Kentucky Derby the Kentucky
Oaks and the Clark handicap each of
which were modeled after races in
England approximately 10,000 spectators
showed up to witness the first annual
running of the Kentucky Derby as fifteen
three-year-old thoroughbred horses ran a
one and a half mile race the Kentucky
Derby has been through many changes over
the years everything from the size of
the crowds to the shortening of the race
however through each development it has
embraced the test of time by continually
honoring the spirit of the famous race
set forth all those years ago yet one
thing remains true the history and
tradition behind this great race
continues to grow stronger with each
passing year
