Churchill Downs

We went to Churchill Downs while in Louisville. The museum was closed for renovation but we did go on a tour. While we were waiting for the tour to start we snuck into the stands to see the track, while we were in there we took a quick picture of us all with the finish line pole in the back ground.We picked the Back Side Tour. It was an hour long and we got in a van and drove under the track in to the in field. Our guide told us about many different features of the in field. Then we drove under the back stretch of the track to the barn area. There are living quarters on site for single folks that work at the track.

This is one of the race horses. There were about 40 horses on site while we were there. There are 1140 stalls. It is a little early in the season and most of the trainers will move their horses in over the next few weeks.

I thought that the barns looked pretty nice, but our tour guide told us that this one will have hanging ferns and flower pots from April thru July. Each trainer has their own preferences. The Red logo on the wall is for the trainer that is using that barn.
This picture is near the back stretch starting area. We stopped here to see the grand stands together. The middle section with the twin spires in the famous structure at the track. The most expensive box holds 52 people, all inclusive, food, drinks, betting window, for two afternoons for horse racing... $250,000. So, save up so that we can go, it's about $5k a head.

It was a fun tour. Makes you want to go back on a regular race day to check out the racing. It seems to me that their aren't many 'home town' tracks left. It you want the kids to see some horse racing you got to go to a big track. Turn in May 1, 2010 to watch the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby.