Historic Churchill Downs Horse Racetrack Louisville Kentucky
July 24, 2018
Horse Racetrack Photos 2018
On the last weekend of June 2018, I took a day trip to photograph some of Louisville Kentucky’s tourist attractions. Below are my images of Churchill Downs horse race track and home of the Kentucky Derby. It was a beautiful morning to photograph the grounds of this famous racetrack. I would love to photograph an engagement session or wedding at this American icon.
One of my goals is to photograph a downtown Louisville Kentucky engagement session or wedding. There are several amazing bourbon distilleries, breweries, and unique buildings. Call or email me if you’d like me to be your Louisville engagement photographer or Louisville wedding photographer!
Favorite Churchill Downs Photo
My favorite racetrack photo is from the southwest corner of the property looking directly east down the track. I did not trespass to get these shots. I just parked and watched the horses warming up in the morning. This was the perfect time to be on track, and it was beautiful. I also drove by the horse barns on the south side where people were bathing the amazing thoroughbreds that are kept there.
I wasn’t anticipating this photo shoot, so all images were taken on my iPhone.
World Famous Horse Track And Venue Empty 2025
Churchill Downs Empty Is Beautiful
As a travel photographer and concert photographer, I love tours and I love empty venues. Churchill Downs, a world famous horse track, checked both of these boxes. I was part of a private tour that lasted about 15 minutes. Originally, I was hoping for an extensive tour. What I got was a great tour guide who walked us to the grandstands near turn four. We were right against the track looking up into the grandstands. This was the only “tour” we got, but it was enough to get some great photos. An impending
Kentucky Derby Museum
Visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum was a cool addition to being at Churchill Downs. For horse racing fans, this museum would be amazing. Even though I don’t care for horses, I really appreciated the high quality of this museum. As with any good museum, there are historical artifacts that tell the history of the sport and of this world famous horse track. My favorite exhibit was the race-specific plaques that told the story of each and every Kentucky Derby race. Starting with the first race and moving through to the 2025 race, you can see the trends in race times and prize money. It was really fascinating. Be sure to watch the 360 video presentation. It was one of the most well done museum video presentations I have ever seen.
My History With Churchill Downs A World Famous Horse Track
30 years ago I visited this track for the first time. On a family vacation to Nashville and Memphis, we made a stop in Louisville, Kentucky. Our only goal was to watch a horse race at Churchill Downs. We bought entry tickets and walked in. Even at age 15, I loved seeing this giant facility. My memories of that day include watching a race, being down by the world famous horse track, and the enormity of the building. For years after, we always talked about going to the Kentucky Derby. So far, we haven’t made it due to usually photographing a wedding on Derby weekend.
On June 30, 2018 we attended the Taylor Swift tour at Louisville Cardinal Stadium, formerly Papa John’s Stadium. The following morning, I got up early to get coffee and explore the area. Being an aviation photographer, I spent about an hour watching large UPS cargo planes landing at the nearby Louisville International Airport. Before heading back to the hotel, I drove the perimeter of the race track. On the far west side I found a place to park and watch a few riders exercising their horses on the track. The sun was rising and creating a beautiful glow on the track. On the south side of the property are the stables where I watched people preparing their horses for the day. Although I am not a fan of horses or horse racing, I loved seeing behind the scenes at this world famous horse track.
Key Takeaways
- The article discusses visit to Churchill Downs in 2018 and 2025 focusing on photography opportunities at this famous racetrack.
- I would love to photograph weddings and engagement sessions in downtown Louisville.
- Visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum offered insights into the historical significance of Churchill Downs and its horse racing culture.
- I recall my first visit to Churchill Downs 30 years ago, which left a lasting impression and a desire to return for the Kentucky Derby.
- Despite not being a horse racing enthusiast, I enjoyed exploring the area and photographing the stunning grounds of Churchill Downs.
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