Churchill Downs Jewelry Collection

Horse racing fans the world over would agree that no place in the world so encapsulates the history and prestige of thoroughbred horse racing quite like Churchill Downs. In 1872, when Meriwther Lewis Clark returned from the Epsom Derby in England, he was so inspired by his travels and experiences that he was determined to create an equally spectacular event in the States. It was then that some of Clark’s family provided the land to develop a racetrack just three miles south of downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The track was constructed on eighty acres of land that Clark leased from his uncles, John and Henry Churchill. To fund the initial construction, Clark raised money by selling membership subscriptions to the track. With 320 membership subscriptions sold for $100 each, Clark raised a total of $32,000. This profit was used to construct a clubhouse, grandstand, Porter’s Lodge, and six stables on site for the opening of the track. Throughout the years, the initial structures still stand, but the racetrack has continued to grow and modernize.

Today, Churchill Downs spans 147 acres with its most significant structure being the Twin Spires, an architectural feature which sits atop the grandstand and has become the universally recognized symbol for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. There is truly no place quite like Churchill Downs, and at Darren K. Moore, we have had the blessing of partnering with Churchill Downs® and the Kentucky Derby Museum for 30 years! So, whether you are there in the off-season for a tour of the track or are crossing off the bucket-list item of attending the Kentucky Derby, we look forward to meeting you at the Downs!