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 Kentucky Derby Tickets - Links and details on how to buy Derby tickets, a list of Kentucky Derby winners, Kentucky Derby hotel packages with tickets, the history about the great event and even information on the Kentucky Derby museum.
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The Kentucky Derby history page give some background to the Churchill Downs event including the founder, how women came into the Kentucky Derby history and links to other sources of information.
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Kentucky Derby history - racing since 1875
Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., who built Churchill Downs in Louisville, wanted his track to have a race that would rival
England's Epsom Derby. After visiting England to study both its tracks and its races, he established the Kentucky Derby,
which was first run on May 17, 1875.
However, the Derby was just another regional race until 1902, when Colonel Matt J. Winn took over the track. Although
he had seen every Kentucky Derby history since the beginning, Winn knew little about horse racing or running tracks. But he
was a very good promoter. After raising money to save Churchill Downs from bankruptcy, Winn began making frequent trips
to New York, then the centre of American racing, to persuade owners to enter their horses in the Kentucky Derby. His
persistence paid off. By 1920, the Derby had become the best-known race in North America and it was attracting the top
three-year-olds from all over the country. Kentucky Derby history contd.
women in the event
Women have played an important part in the Kentucky Derby. This history began in 1904 with a woman by the name of
Laska Durnell and a horse called Elwood. In the beginning the colt's, Elwood, record was terrible. Of course that
changed when Elwood was brought to Louisville, Kentucky and honored for his excellent performance by C.E. Durnell,
husband of Laska. Elwood was the first Derby winner owned by a woman. Another fact is that Mrs. J.B. Prather bred
Elwood. Prather made Kentucky Derby history for being the first woman to breed a horse.
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The most relevant links we could find, placed here free
 Essortment
- More on women in the Kentucky Derby www.essortment.com
HickokSports
- History of the Kentucky Derby. www.hickoksports.com
Kentucky Derby
- more on Kentucky Derby history www.kentuckyderby.com
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