Kentucky Derby Museum

The Kentucky Derby Museum is an American Thoroughbred horse racing museum located on the grounds of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Dedicated to preserving the history of the Kentucky Derby, it first opened its doors to the public in the spring of 1984. Much of its early funding came from a donation from the estate of James Graham Brown.

The Kentucky derby Museum consists of two floors of exhibit space, including a 360-degree theater that shows the HD video "The Greatest Race". Through the film and exhibits, visitors can learn what goes into the breeding and training of a young foal and the path it takes to the Kentucky Derby's winner circle. Every Kentucky Derby win is honored in the Warner L. Jones Time Machine, where visitors can watch any Kentucky Derby from 1918 to the present day. Exhibits highlight the stories of owners, trainers and jockeys as well as the importance of African American jockeys and trainers to the race and the Thoroughbred industry. Guided tours of Churchill Downs' barn and infield areas, jockeys' quarters, "millionaires row" and press box are also offered.

Champions' trophies

The Kentucky Derby Museum has documented the whereabouts of most of the trophies give to Derby winners. As of 2007, it is still working to locate ten missing trophies, eight of which are from the 1924 design currently in use, and two are of a different design given out in 1922 and 1923. The missing trophies for the year and its winner are as follows:

*1922 : Morvich
*1923 : Zev
*1924 : Black Gold
*1929 : Clyde Van Dusen
*1936 : Bold Venture
*1947 : Jet Pilot
*1951 : Count Turf
*1962 : Decidedly
*1986 : Ferdinand
*2002 : War Emblem

Champions' cemetery

The Museum has arranged for the reburial on its grounds of four past Derby winners whose original graves were threatened by land development. The past champions now interred here are:
*Brokers Tip (1938-1953)
*Carry Back (1958-1983)
*Sunny's Halo (1980-2003)
*Swaps (1952-1972)

The 2006 Derby winner Barbaro (2003-2007) will be interred just outside an entrance to Churchill Downs, and also outside the Museum. Barbaro's owners chose to bury his remains in a location where his admirers would not have to pay an admission fee.

ee also

*List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky

External links

* [http://www.derbymuseum.org/ Derby Museum website]