Do you know who founded Churchill Downs and...

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Do you know who founded Churchill Downs and is responsible for the Kentucky Derby? That makes for a great trivia question. It’s truly historic.
An ambitious 26-year-old Kentuckian got the idea while traveling in England and France during the early 1870s. The avid horse racing fan that lacked track management experience traveled to England, visiting the Epsom Derby that had been run annually since 1780, and France, where in 1863 the prestigious Grand Prix de Paris was launched.
He was Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of half the famous Lewis and Clark team that led the first American overland expedition (1803-06) along the Ohio River from Clarkesville, Ind., to the Pacific Northwest and back.
At the time racing and breeding in Clark’s native Bluegrass State were in decline. Upon returning from Europe he proposed a plan to prominent, wealthy Louisville gentlemen to build a track, hold a championship race and establish a jockey club with memberships.
In 1874, the brainchild became reality and the Louisville Jockey Club and Driving Park Association was incorporated that June. Then Clark leased 80 acres from his uncles, John and Henry Churchill, to build the track.

More than 300 subscriptions to members of high society were sold for $100 each to fund construction. The track, located just outside the city, was named for Clark’s relatives – Churchill Downs, which wasn’t officially incorporated until 1937.
On May 17, 1875, the inaugural meeting featured four races that included the Kentucky Derby, which was modeled after the Epsom Derby. A crowd of 10,000 wagered about $50,000.
Here’s more trivia you’ll find interesting that could earn a buck or two any time of year.
How many fillies have captured America’s Race? Three. Can you name them? They are Regret, 1915; Genuine Risk, ‘80; and Winning Colors, ‘88.
That leads us to another question: Who is the only roan to visit the winner’s circle? Winning Colors.
You get the picture so test your Kentucky Derby knowledge and check the answers after these 10 questions:
1. On what date were the Derby and Preakness held on the same afternoon?
2. In what year did the largest win payoff occur?
3. Who is the only foreign-based horse to triumph?
4. When was the Derby first televised?
5. Name the oldest jockey to win the Derby?
6. Who was the first woman to ride in America’s Race?
7. How many times have there been wire-to-wire winners?
8. Who are the only 3-year-olds to run the 1 ¼ miles under two minutes?
9. In what year did the largest crowd show up?
10. Who is the only sitting president to attend the Derby?
The trivia answers are:
1. 1922 – On May 13, Morvich scored at Churchill Downs and Pillory won at Pimlico.
2. 1913 – Donerail returned $184.90 to win for $2.
3. Canonero II captured the ‘71 Derby.
4. 1952 – CBS broadcast the ‘78th Derby won by Hill Gail.
5. Bill Shoemaker was 54 when he guided his fourth and last Derby winner Ferdinand in ‘86.
6. Diane Crump rode 15th place finisher Fathom in ‘70 when Dust Commander triumphed.
7. War Emblem in ‘02 was the last to wire the field.
8. Three horses ran the 1 ¼ miles under two minutes since the distance was shortened a quarter-mile in 1896. Record-holder Secretariat and bridesmaid Sham ran under two minutes in ‘73. Monarchos won in ‘01 just two ticks under the 1:59 2/5 posted by the Triple Crown champ.
9. 163,628 witnessed the ‘74 Derby captured by Cannonade.
10. Richard M. Nixon. He was at the ‘68 race when winning Dancer’s Image was disqualified to last after a post-race urinalysis found traces of phenylbutazone and Forward Pass was elevated to first. The drug’s use at the time was legal at other tracks, but not at Churchill Downs, which later allowed it.

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