Iconic sports stadium in major $200 million revamp as plans go ahead before world famous event starts
THE Churchill Downs will look vastly different for the 150th Kentucky Derby in May.
The 149-year-old horse racing venue is nearing completion in the construction of a stunning new paddock.
The new look $200 million paddock will be over double the size of its 1988 predecessor, going from 5,000 to 12,000 square feet, as per media services director Darren Rogers in an interview with Spectrum News.
Located in between the historic spires, the multi-story oval enclosure will surround a sunken paddock, allowing for better views for fans, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
The oval walking ring will be surrounded by 21 stalls that can be closely viewed by fans through windows from inside The Woodford Reserve Paddock Club & Enclosure, as per the Downs.
This club will also offer all-inclusive food and drinks as well as covered outdoor seating overlooking the walking ring.
There will also be Sports Illustrated’s Club SI which will offer, “A luxurious, equine-focused dining experience.”
The club will provide guests with, “An immersive view of the all-new Paddock and Paddock Runway,” as well as, “The opportunity to watch the races on the rail just a few sections before the Finish Line.”
Further seating areas, as well as a small banked bleacher, will give fans plenty of options from which they can view the thoroughbreds behind the scenes.
All in all, the paddock’s new layout will seat 2,400 fans.
“What I love about this new project is, right when you walk through the gates, you’re going to see horses saddled in the paddock, and they’re going to be beneath the twin spires,” Rogers told the Courier Journal.
“It brings those spires back into a focal point.”
While grass, seats, and general finishing touches have yet to be put in place, the paddock is expected to be finished in mid-April, according to Downs publicist Kevin Kerstein on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Once finished, it will supposedly represent “Almost like a Roman Coliseum-type structure,” as per Rodgers via local NBC affiliate WAVE.
The 150th Kentucky Derby is set to take place on Saturday, May 4.
Last year’s race was won by Mage and jockey Javier Castellano.