There are few better locations to visit for horse racing fans than Louisville. The city is the most populated in the state of Kentucky, and the 28th most populous in the United States.
It has been a huge playground for horse betting odds throughout history, which is little surprise when considered that it ranks as the 24th largest city in the U.S. based on land area.
The city is one of the fastest-growing cities in North America, with the tourism increasing year-on-year. But, what makes the city one of the most popular in North America?
Early History
Louisville is named after King Louis XVI of France, and it was founded by George Rogers Clark in 1778. That also makes it one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachians.
It was a hugely popular business area during its early history, as there was only one major obstruction between the city and upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Louisville became an incorporated city in 1828 after the population exceeded 7,000. History also indicates that Louisville was a major shipping port for enslaved African Americans, and was often an area to escape to the north where Indiana was a free state.
Sporting Historic Relevance
Louisville is a sport-loving state in the U.S., with major teams represented. College sports are incredibly popular within the area, with basketball ranking among the most followed.
The Louisville Cardinals are one of the most supported teams in college basketball, with the Freedom Hall seeing average sell outs for ten years straight.
Such has been the success of college basketball; the Louisville market has ranked first in ratings for the NCAA Men’s tournament every year since 1999. The Cardinals Football Team also has a history of creating pathways to the NFL, with Deion Branch, Lamar Jackson, and Teddy Bridgewater all playing for the team.
Golf is also incredibly popular within the state, with the iconic Valhalla Golf Club playing host to the PGA Championships on four occasions and the Ryder Cup in 2008.
Interestingly, Louisville is also the only city in the world that has been the birthplace to four different world heavyweight champions, with the most famous of these being Mohammad Ali.
Horse Racing In Louisville
Despite having huge interest in a range of sports, it is horse racing events that typically rank among the most watched. Louisville is home to one of the world’s most famous tracks- Churchill Downs.
Racing action has been staged at the course since 1875, and it regularly sees over 170,000 fans in attendance for some of the biggest dates in the diary. Churchill Downs ranked number five on the list of the best race tracks in North America in 2009, and it was named in honour of John and Henry Churchill.
Horse racing was incredibly popular in Louisville before Churchill Downs opened, with action on track previously taking place at Oakland and Woodlawn. The closure and subsequent purchase of land saw the birth of Churchill Downs, with the iconic Twin Spires grandstand erected in 1895.
It was during this period that many esteemed traditions would be born, including the shortening of the length of the signature race to its modern distance, and the adorning of a garland or roses for the winner of the Derby.
Birth of the Kentucky Derby
Churchill Downs hosts eight Grade Ones throughout the year, and has been selected to host previous editions of the Breeders’ Cup. However, the biggest day on the schedule at the track is the Kentucky Derby. The race forms the opening leg of the Triple Crown and it was formed by Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. following a trip to England to witness the Epsom Derby.
After returning to the U.S. he put forward plans to host a similar event at Churchill Downs, with horses aged three to compete in a lucrative race. Since then, the Derby has become the most-watched race in the United States, and along with the Oaks, which is run a day earlier, it is the oldest major sporting event that has been held annually since its inception.
For the first time in 2024, the purse for the race was raised to $5 million, and it has been event that has seen dominant performances and shock winners. One of the most shocking results came in 2022, when reserve Rich Strike won the race at odds of 80/1. As one of the most important social events on the calendar, the Derby is regularly attended by celebrities, with HM Queen Elizabeth II attending Churchill Downs for the first time in 2007.
The Derby continues to be one of the most important racing events on the schedule, and it is the biggest single event in Louisville annually. That promises to be no different in 2025, when the 151st Kentucky Derby is staged on the first Saturday in May.
