KENTUCKY DOWNS RACECOURSE

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The Kentucky Downs racecourse can be found in the vicinity of the city of Franklin in the state of Kentucky. It first opened its gates on 22nd April 1990, then being known as Dueling Grounds Race Course. Amazingly in its first year it hosted steeplechase jumps races but became entirely a flat race track by 1992. By 13th September 1993 it had switched to thoroughbred racing on its 11 furlong turf track with 3 turns, offering 6 days of racing in that year. Its principal thoroughbred race is the Group III Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Stakes, run in 1991 when Silver Medalion was ridden to victory by Craig Perret. Other feature thoroughbred races include the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes and the Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes.  Launched as a steeplechase track, jumps racing lapsed, but returned in 2000 only to lapse again shortly afterwards. However, it was returned to the programme in 2008 and now hosts the Belle Meade Plantation Stakes, a well-regarded steeplechase. Although racing lapsed briefly, the track was taken over by a new ownership team in 1997 and was relaunched as Kentucky Downs on 13th September 1998.

Local Patrons Kentucky Downs Race Club
Principal Races Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap Stakes, Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes, Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes, Belle Meade Plantation Stake

Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes/ Handicap winners since its inception in 1991
1991 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was won by Silver Medallion trained by Philip Hauswald and ridden by Craig Perret
1992 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was won by Drummer Boy trained by Dennis Ebert and ridden by Garrett Gomez
1993 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was won by Know Heights trained by Robert Hess and ridden by Kent Desormeaux
1994 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was won by Lindon Lime trained by W Elliott Walden and ridden by Shane Sellers
1995 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was won by Lassigny trained by William Mott and ridden by Pat Day
1996-97 The Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes over 12 furlongs was not contested
1998 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Yaqthan trained by Anthony Reinstedler and ridden by Brian Peck
1999 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Fahris trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Shane Sellers
2000 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Down the Aisle trained by William Mott and ridden by Robby Albarado
2001 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Chorwon trained by Hal Wiggins and ridden by Jon Court
2002 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Rochester trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Eddie Martin
2003 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Rochester trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Eddie Martin
2004 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Sabiango trained by Tim Yakteen and ridden by Brice Blanc
2005 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Silverfoot trained by Dallas Stewart and ridden by Rafael Bejarano
2006 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Embossed trained by Niall OCallaghan and ridden by Larry Melancon
2007 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by General Jumbo trained by H Graham Motion and ridden by Jeremy Rose
2008 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Rumor Has It trained by David Hinsley and ridden by Eddie Perez
2009 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Cloudys Knight trained by Jonathan Sheppard and ridden by Rosemary Homeister
2010 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Rezif trained by Matthew Jacobsen and ridden by Greta Kuntzweller
2011 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Rahystrada trained by Byron Hughes and ridden by Greta Kuntzweller
2012 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Ioya Bigtime trained by Byron Hughes and ridden by Corey Lanerie
2013 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Temeraine trained by Thomas Proctor and ridden by Gary Stevens
2014 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Suntracer trained by Chris Block and ridden by Florent Geroux
2015 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Da Big Hoss trained by Michael Maker and ridden by Joseph Rocco
2016 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Da Big Hoss trained by Michael Maker and ridden by Florent Geroux
2017 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Oscar Nominated trained by Michael Maker and ridden by Julien Leparoux
2018 The Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs was won by Arklow trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux

Course today The racecourse continues to operate very successfully.
If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
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