Horse Racing in Kentucky dates back more than 200 years to 1789 when the first track was laid in Lexington. Nearly 100 years later Churchill Downs officially announced the opening of the Kentucky Derby.

Col. M. Lewis Clark conceived the idea in the early 1870s to serve to conduct race meets for a Louisville Jockey Club. The track was later incorporated as Churchill Downs in 1937. An estimated 10,000 fans witnessed the first Kentucky Derby, on May 17 1875. Since then, over the past 130 years the event has grown considerably and last year more then 140,000 were on hand to watch Smarty Jones make him self known to horse racing enthusiasts.

In the late 1890s Churchill Downs underwent a renovation to its grandstand estimated to have cost $100,000, a significant amount of money back then, in comparison, 2004 saw the main clubhouse undergo a $121 million dollar renovation.

The Kentucky Derby has been a beloved event for more than 130 years now and with each year grows in popularity. Kentucky Derby tickets are available now for the upcoming horse racing event so be sure to order today and ensure your seat at the big day.