To Book these Kentucky Derby hotels click on Contact Us, or email: hotels@superhotelrooms.com, Call 772-409-2214 or 1-772-HOT-ROOMS.

SPECIAL... 2 rooms at the Ramada on Crittenden Road (near Churchill Downs) for the Kentucky Derby. Nights of 4/30, 5/1 and 5/2. 2 queen beds, non smoking. Paid $1,380 per room for the 3 nights, selling to recoup expenses. YOU PRICE $1200. Call 570-466-6564 for this hotel only!

Ramada Inn, Louisville - $367 per night

RED ROOF, Louisville - $296 per night

(9) Days Inn Shepherdsville - Louisville Bedding: 1 King or 2 Doubles 130 Lakeview Dr., Shepherdsville, KY 40165 2 Nights at $449.99/night plus tax

(9) Days Inn Jeffersonville Bedding: 1 King or 2 Doubles 350 Eastern Blvd, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 3 Nights at $319.99/night plus tax

(16) Comfort Suites Airport Bedding: Suite/ 2 Queens & Sofabed or 1 King Sofabed 6535 Paramount Park Dr., Louisville, KY 40213 3 Nights at $249.99/night plus tax

For this rate, Call 1 (772) HOT ROOMS to book or 1 (772) 409 2214. All rates subject to 15% tax and based on 3 nights stay. Call for 2 nights and add $50 nightly surcharge!

Executive Inn Kentucky Derby Executive Inn - Full Service Hotel, but rated 3 star 978 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209-1399 3 Nights at $595.00/night plus tax

Executive West $659/night (for 3 night package) $309/night (for extra night) Jason Galt House $1050/night (for 3 night package)

Hyatt Regency Louisville, Downtown Prices include 3 nights Welcoming champagne & strawberries Daily entertainment and music in lobby Special touches of nightly turndown service Racing forms and official programs Limited edition print Standard = $4,000 per room

PREAKNESS RACE HOTELS INNER HARBOR

RENAISSANCE HOTEL $439

Kentucky Derby Information

Churchill Downs

700 Central Avenue . Louisville, KY 40208

Horse racing in Kentucky is rich in history, dating back to 1789 when the first race course was laid out in Lexington. However, it was almost 100 years later, in 1875, that Churchill Downs officially opened and began its tradition as "Home of the Kentucky Derby." In 1787, The Commons, a park-like block near Lexington's Race Street was used by horsemen for racing. By 1789, complaints by "safety minded" citizens led to the formal development of a race meet at The Commons. The men who organized this race meet, including Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay, also formed the Commonwealth's first Jockey Club. The organization later was named the Kentucky Jockey Club in 1809. Racing in Louisville dates back to 1783 when local sources reported that races were held on Market Street in the downtown area. To alleviate the problems associated with racing on the busy city thoroughfare, a course was developed at the now abandoned Shippingport Island in 1805. Racing was conducted on the island in the Ohio River at what was called the Elm Tree Gardens.

By 1827, a new track, known as the Hope Distillery Course, was laid out on what is presently Main and 16th Streets. Racing was also held on a number of private tracks located on farms throughout the local area. One of the more prominent of these was Peter Funk's Beargrass Track which was located in an area now bordered by Hurstbourne Lane and Taylorsville Road.

The Oakland Race Course was opened in the fall of 1833 and brought racing back to a formal site with the track, complete with clubhouse, located at what is now Seventh and Magnolia Streets in "Old Louisville". This was followed in 1858 by the opening of the Woodlawn Course on the Louisville and Lexington railroad lines just outside of today's St. Matthews, east of Louisville. The site closed in 1870, but the Woodlawn Vase, the track's premier trophy, has been used in the presentation to the winner of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico since 1917. Harness racing was also a significant part of Louisville's early racing history with a number of tracks in existence. One of the most prominent was Greeneland, a racecourse for trotters was built just east of Churchill Downs in 1868.