Churchill Downs Misses the Mark on Paddock Transformation

Churchill Downs has invested millions to bring the nearly 150-year-old facility into the 21st century. It started with luxury suites upstairs, trickling all the way down to the finish line, and this year the track will unveil a new grandstand and turf course for Kentucky Derby 148. For the 150th running of the roses Churchill Downs is prepared to provide a finishing touch by transforming the paddock area.

Churchill Downs’ paddock needs a change. Not all change is bad, but this one certainly is. A place that’s purpose is to invite horse racing fans from every walk of life will turn into one that emphasizes exclusivity, prioritizing only the wealthiest of patrons.

Proposed Paddock Transformation

Costing between $185 to $200 million, the proposed project will specifically address three problems, while adding some extra flare.

1. Patrons cannot clearly see the Twin Spires from the Main Gate.
2. There is no smooth flow of traffic around the paddock area.
3. The video boards are out-dated (that’s putting it nicely).

According to Churchill Downs, this proposal remedies all three problems, while also creating “additional value for guests by updating existing ticket products and amenities.” What exactly does that mean? Another luxury lounge.

Premium club seating will feature dining tables, cocktail services, a Chef’s Table and many more private amenities for approximately 3,612 guests. Some premium seating options will provide views that are similar to field-level suites at football stadiums, allowing patrons to peer into stalls as they wine and dine.

Upgrades for “Nearly” Every Guests

In the press release from CDI (Churchill Downs Incorporated), it states this renovation “will enhance the experience for nearly every guest.” Guess which guests get left behind? Those who often spend their entire day at the paddock.

Churchill Downs says the paddock will expand from 5,000 sq. ft. to 12,000 and upgrade capacity inside the paddock from 1,000 to 2,400 people. The renovation also calls for 3,250 standing room-only seats with bleachers available for patrons to take a load off near the horses.

The specs don’t match the figures.

Maybe I’m missing something from the only photo provided. This does not look like a place that invites horse racing fans from every class to see the colts and fillies before they race. Instead of walking up to the rail, one must gaze from atop a coliseum of sorts. The purpose of the paddock is not fulfilled by this extravagant concept.

No Common Area for the Common People

For years locals have felt slighted by the suits at CDI. Every single upgrade at Churchill Downs has been directed toward the wealthiest of its patrons. Sure, they’ve thrown the common man a bone here and there. We now can stare at an enormous screen while watching races from the Infield. This year Infielders will be entertained with an outstanding band after more than a decade without live entertainment on Thurby. It’s a nice toy for the animals locked in their Infield cage to play with while the adults enjoy their all you can eat and drink experience on the frontside of the track. Those ticket-holders can walk over to the Infield too, but that’s not reciprocated for those with general admission tickets.

Individuals who pay a high dollar to attend the Kentucky Derby should be entitled to more privileges than a general admission ticket holder. We may take it is a slight, but it’s not personal. After all, we enjoy our one weekend in the Infield a year.

All of the upgrades and renovations beneath the Twin Spires are to maximize the Derby Week experience. The proposed paddock transformation at Churchill Downs completely disregards the fans that regularly attend the historic racetrack throughout the year.

When I go to Churchill Downs, I socialize in the paddock. I’ve been doing just that since before I could walk. Pat Day posed for a picture with my Father and I in the paddock, then a few days later won his only Derby aboard Lil E. Tee. It’s a story I will tell for the rest of my life. I watched my first Derby in person from the paddock. When Mario Gutierrez waved at our crowd, I placed the final $25 in my wallet on I’ll Have Another, the first Derby ticket I ever cashed. Almost 20 years after my experience as an infant in the paddock, I took my son there for the first time. Before we left, he was dancing on the stage.

Churchill Downs can add as many bells and whistles as it would like to fill its coffers during Derby Week. The Twin Spires aren’t historic for just one week of the year. The area that lies beneath them is a place to make memories and create horse racing fans for life. Instead of inviting more fans into the fold, exclusivity is the cornerstone of the Churchill Downs transformation, completely missing the mark and invalidating the purpose of the paddock.