fi eldreport:
not maintain the turf, which is handled by a team
of four crewmembers.
"The Derby is like a machine," Bizzell says. "You
either go with the fl ow or you get run over."
They use plants including mums, ginger, pan-
sies, Gomphrena 'Pink Zazzle,' Japanese maples,
European weeping birch, prostrate blue spruce,
fl owering kale and ornamental cabbage. They get
some varieties from Proven Winners and Monrovia.
In the most formal garden at Churchill Downs,
hellebores surround statues of Aristides, the horse
that won the fi rst Kentucky Derby in 1875, and
Pat Day, the all-time-leading jockey at Churchill
Downs. Recycled tires transformed into pavers line
the paddock area, and tropical hibiscuses enclose
the space.
Want to see the grounds or museum while
you're in Louisville for GIE+EXPO? Churchill Downs
offers a historic walking, barn and backside van,
inside the gates, twilight and Horses & Haunts
tours – all for $15 or less per person with museum
admission. Visit derbymuseum.org/tours.html for
more information.
View more photos from the greenhouse, grounds
and races at totallandscapecare.com/churchill-
downs. Watch a video tour of Churchill Downs at
totallandscapecare.com/tour-churchill-downs.
8 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m A U G U S T 2 014
(Above) The 1,200-square-foot greenhouse is right off of the track. (Top
Right) The California Chrome winner's silks statue matched the existing
foliage. (Bottom Right) The track holds races throughout the week.
1
In 1955, a $300,000 automatic sprinkler
system was installed in the entire
grandstand and clubhouse.
2
To fund construction for the track, Col. M.
Lewis Clark raised $32,000 by selling 320
membership subscriptions for $100 each.
5 FACTS ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS
3
The track showed its fi rst profi t in 1903 – 28 years
after its founding.
4
The fi rst national telecast of the Kentucky Derby
aired May 3, 1952.
5
Churchill Downs covers 147 acres, and on Derby
day, crowds can reach more than 150,000.
