First Turn Club

Churchill Downs Racetrack has renewed its partnership with Ford as the exclusive automotive partner of the Kentucky Derby through 2029,  the track announced Wednesday. Under the renewed agreement, Ford will be granted exclusivity in the automotive category and an expanded footprint with interactive vehicle displays to promote fan interaction and immersive brand experiences to supplement the excitement of Derby Week and beyond. As part of the multi-year agreement, Ford will expand its on-site footprint to include the naming of the First Turn Club, a premium hospitality space originally debuted in...

Kentucky Derby and Oaks-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be the Keynote Speaker at Race for Grace--hosted by the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy--to be held on Apr. 28 at Churchill Downs. Held in a new space at Churchill's First Turn Club, the event will feature a silent and live auction including items such as 2026 Kentucky Derby and Oaks boxes and the Derby contender's halters, a Keeneland package, many golf packages, horse racing art and memorabilia as well as trips to Mexico, a Montana Cabin vacation. In 2024, Hernandez became...

The Backside Learning Center (BLC)--an independent non-profit organization providing support and resources for the diverse community of racetrack workers and their families--will hold its annual fundraiser, "Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races Celebrating the BLC's 20th Anniversary," Friday, Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs at noon. The public can participate online to purchase raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items. Information and specifics can be found on benefitforthebackside.com. This will be the second year the event will be held at the Churchill Downs' First Turn Club--a, spacious,...