Churchill Downs

After the Slugger Museum we headed to Churchill Downs. I forgot to take into account the hour we would lose with the time change, so we were too late to take the on-track tour we were hoping to take. However, we did get to check out the Kentucky Derby Museum and surround ourselves by history in the making, learning all about American Pharaoh, the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years!! My sister was at the Kentucky Derby this year and watched him win, so it was extra special to be able to visit and see all of the excitement around him now that he is the Triple Crown winner! As we were leaving, we heard the bugler sound his trumpet and headed to the gate where we got to watch an actual horse race at Churchill Downs! Though it wasn’t the Kentucky Derby, it was awesome to witness the power of these beautiful horses racing around the track. I think the cool down laps were our favorite, seeing these sleek beauties walking out without their jockeys and saddles. 

American Pharaoh in all his glory.

The girls loved "jockeying" the horses. Oddly enough, the girl who couldn't even reach the stirrups won almost every time!

Getting a feel for what it would be like at the start gate.

Family bonding at Churchill. 

Monument to Barbaro who won the Derby in 2006, but shattered his leg two weeks later at the Preakness, ending his racing career and his life. 

We were really excited to hear the bugler and get to watch a race at Churchill.