Churchill Downs: America's Most Historic Racetrack

by Kimberly Gatto

In the bustling city streets of late 18th century Louisville began a tradition of thoroughbred racing that has transcended centuries. Follow author Kimberly Gatto as she chronicles the history of the world's most famous racing venue, which revolutionized the "Sport of Kings'? and created the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark Handicap races. Fans will enjoy the tales of various horses, from the early triumph of Ten Broeck over Mollie McCarthy to the Derby victory of the heroic thoroughbred Barbaro. Churchill America's Most Historic Racetrack recounts the various financial hardships, the introduction of parimutuel betting, the construction of the famed twin spire grandstand, and how the age of television transformed Churchill Downs into the majestic track we recognize today.

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2010

About the author

Kimberly Gatto is a professional writer specializing in equestrian and sports books. Her published works to date include three horse-related titles and several athlete biographies. Her work has been included in various publications, including the Blood Horse, the Chronicle of the Horse, the Equine Journal, and Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul. Gatto is an honors graduate of Boston Latin School and Wheaton College. A lifelong rider and horsewoman, she is the proud owner of a lovely off-the-track thoroughbred.

Reviews

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The challenge of writing a book like this is that horse racing involves lots of names — names of horses, names of owners, names of trainers, names of sires and dams, names of races, names of race courses. For those involved intimately in the world of high-stakes horse racings, these names are undoubtedly very important, and Gatto seems to be writing for this world. This book is careful to mention all the names and, yes, I admire the attention to accuracy and giving credit to those who put work and money into these races and this racetrack. For those outside this world, however, all the names tend to pile up overwhelmingly. As an outsider, I kept getting overwhelmed. After a while, I skimmed paragraphs. I would have preferred a book with more of a big picture of the track’s changing role over time. I wanted a sense of the “forest” but this was a book that preferred to focus on the “trees.”

[Chris Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info!