Churchill Downs is the well-known home of the Kentucky Derby, but it also hosts several other popular and important horse races. In addition to the Derby (a Grade 1 stakes race), is the Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1), Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade 1) and the Clark Handicap (Grade 2).

When Churchill Downs first opened in 1875, the first Derby and Kentucky Oaks were held that year. The Derby was originally a mile and a half, but the distance was changed to the current mile and a quarter in 1896. The first Derby in 1875 attracted a field of 15 three year old horses and a crowd of 10,000 people. The first horse to win the Derby was a horse by the name of Aristides, trained by Ansel Williams.
Williams would later become a Hall of Fame trainer. The colt was ridden by Oliver Lewis, who would also ride the horse to a win in the Belmont Stakes.

The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade 1 Stakes race for three year old Thoroughbred fillies that is held each year at Churchill Downs. Along with the Derby, the Oaks is one of the oldest continuously contested sporting events in history. It is also the only race that is held at its original site. The Kentucky Oaks has been run at four distances starting with a mile and half to a mile and a quarter to a mile and a sixteenth to the final mile and an eighth that the race is run at today. The Oaks is like the Derby for fillies and is considered to be the second most popular horse race by attendance. The race attracted 100,000 spectators in 2001.

The Woodford Reserve Classic was formerly known as the Early Times Turf Classic Stakes. The inaugural running of the race took place in 1987. The race is now sponsored by Woodford Reserve, a bourbon distillery. This turf race is typically held prior to the Derby the first Saturday in May each year. It is run at one and one eighth miles for three year olds.

The Clark Handicap is a Grade II race for three-year-olds and up. The race was first run in 1875 and is held annually in late November and early December at Churchill Downs. It among the oldest races in the US and is still held at Churchill Downs to this day. The race was named after Colonel M. Lewis Clark, the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club that built Churchill Downs. The length of the race has changed four times since its inception and is now run at a mile and an eighth.