Learn about one of America’s favorite races at Churchill Downs
South of downtown Louisville, the Kentucky Exposition Center is the epicenter for the Good Sam Rally presented by DISH happening June 21-24 that will draw thousands of RV and trailer lovers, but attending this great show is the perfect excuse to make yourself comfortable, stay a while and explore the area.
In a cosmopolitan city with colonial-era history, exceptional architecture, cultural attractions and an incredibly beautiful landscape that’s within a quick drive of this city of 1 million residents, Churchill Downs is one of the most popular destinations.
Less than ten minutes west of the Exposition Center, the Churchill Downs racetrack hosts the annual Kentucky Derby, along with a series of other races and music festivals throughout the year. It’s a National Historic Landmark, with historic walking tours free with admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum ($14 for adults, $13 for 55+, $6 for kids 5-12, free for kids under 5).
Throughout the 30-minute guided walking tour visitors will learn about past Derby winners and track trivia, meet the track’s resident thoroughbred horse and the location’s history.
On the grounds of Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum attracts more than 200,000 visitors, and recently benefited from a $5.5 million renovation after a flood damaged the main floor exhibits in 2009. During its month of closure, the museum’s themes were significantly upgraded, with a new mission statement to “share the fun of the Kentucky Derby experience.”
The museum’s permanent collection houses more than 20,000 items that tell the story of the sport’s famous trainers, horses and jockeys, and also includes many books, photographs, newspaper clippings, books, handwritten notes and videos that document the facility’s storied history from 1875 to today, including 2012’s winning horse, a chestnut colt named I’ll Have Another.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 507-637-1111 ex: 259, or visit www.derbymuseum.org.
