Tour Of Lou Collection
Call to the Post
Horse racing, a sport and pastime for many in the state of Kentucky, first came to Louisville, KY in 1872 with the return of Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark from a trip to Europe. Kentucky, having a great tradition of horse breeding dating back to the late 1700s, needed a way to showcase the ability of these horses. Inspired by his visit to the Epsom Derby in England, he decided to bring a horse racing tradition to Kentucky. This sparked the inspiration to construct a horse track with the name Churchill Downs, named after his uncles John and Henry Churchill who leased him the land.
Opening day, May 17, 1875, featured 3 major races: The Kentucky Derby, The Kentucky Oaks and The Clark Handicap; modeled after the 3 major stakes races at the Epsom Derby. With a crowd of 10,000 people, the opening day was a success. Crossing the finish line first in the first race ever at Churchill Downs was Bonaventure. Later, that day, one of the greatest traditions in sports was first conducted: The Kentucky Derby. Crossing the line in first Kentucky Derby was Aristides, a three-year-old colt from McGrathiana Farms near Lexington, KY. Every year since, on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby has been run.
Since then, the three major stakes races have been moved to their own day. The Kentucky Oaks is on the first Friday in May, The Kentucky Derby is the day after Oaks and the Clark Handicap, now known as the Clark Stakes, is run in late November each year. Each day has multiple races to last nearly the entire day. Also, The Kentucky Derby is a major cultural event in Louisville as there is a festival named after it. Events such as The Great Steamboat Race (featuring the Belle of Louisville), the Pegasus Parade and the largest annual firework show in North America, Thunder over Louisville, which kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival, all prelude the race over two weeks.
This photo was taken at a common horse racing meet in 2021. Horse racing here at Churchill Downs starts in May and lasts through November each year. I do not know the name of the horse in the photo, but it is a large Thoroughbred who placed second in its race. Also, this photo was taken by the Paddock where horses meet to prepare for the race. A bugler plays “Assembly of the Buglers” as the call to the post, or to notify the jockeys and trainers that it is time to move from the paddock to the starting gate. Bettors can stand near the stable to view the horses prior to a race.
Opening day, May 17, 1875, featured 3 major races: The Kentucky Derby, The Kentucky Oaks and The Clark Handicap; modeled after the 3 major stakes races at the Epsom Derby. With a crowd of 10,000 people, the opening day was a success. Crossing the finish line first in the first race ever at Churchill Downs was Bonaventure. Later, that day, one of the greatest traditions in sports was first conducted: The Kentucky Derby. Crossing the line in first Kentucky Derby was Aristides, a three-year-old colt from McGrathiana Farms near Lexington, KY. Every year since, on the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby has been run.
Since then, the three major stakes races have been moved to their own day. The Kentucky Oaks is on the first Friday in May, The Kentucky Derby is the day after Oaks and the Clark Handicap, now known as the Clark Stakes, is run in late November each year. Each day has multiple races to last nearly the entire day. Also, The Kentucky Derby is a major cultural event in Louisville as there is a festival named after it. Events such as The Great Steamboat Race (featuring the Belle of Louisville), the Pegasus Parade and the largest annual firework show in North America, Thunder over Louisville, which kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival, all prelude the race over two weeks.
This photo was taken at a common horse racing meet in 2021. Horse racing here at Churchill Downs starts in May and lasts through November each year. I do not know the name of the horse in the photo, but it is a large Thoroughbred who placed second in its race. Also, this photo was taken by the Paddock where horses meet to prepare for the race. A bugler plays “Assembly of the Buglers” as the call to the post, or to notify the jockeys and trainers that it is time to move from the paddock to the starting gate. Bettors can stand near the stable to view the horses prior to a race.
Second Street Bridge
#2 Second Street Bridge
The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, or The Second Street Bridge, was completed in 1929 and it linked Clarksville, Indiana to Second Street in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Rather than build from land to sea, the bridge was built from the center out; a method later used to construct other bridges such as the Bay Bridge in Oakland, California. The architects Ralph Modjesk and Frank Masters designed this bridge as a Cantilever Bridge which uses arms attached to anchors to suspend the center of the bridge. The cost to build this bridge was $4.8 million, or $78 million in today’s money.
The bridge is very special to the city of Louisville. It is a state highway and the only bridge without a toll in the downtown area today. When it was built, however, there was a 35-cent toll to cross. Also, this bridged helped relieve traffic on the much older K&I train and vehicle bridge that was opened in 1870. Later, more bridges were built in the downtown area including the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, that was opened in 1963 and the Abraham Lincoln Bridge that was opened in 2015. These two bridges serve Interstate 65 traffic.
Although the bridge is cool looking and magnificent, there is more history to it that is associated with a local figure. 18-year-old Cassius Clay (changed to Muhammad Ali later), a world-famous boxer, proud and full of joy after winning gold in boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, came back to his home city of Louisville with praise, a parade, and a step towards equal rights… so he thought. At a restaurant located in an alley near the bridge, Clay was face to face with 1960 Jim Crowe America. He attempted to enter a “whites only” restaurant to give it a shot and see if they would let him enter. Unfortunately, he walked into slurs, hatred, and a gang of angry white men wanting to try and steal his medal. Stupidly, the white men tried to fight off and scare the Olympic Gold Medalist, with his medal over his neck, but failed to take it.
Cassius left and walked along the Second Street Bridge, angry at how society had treated a hometown hero. He took his medal he worked so hard for and threw it over the edge close to where the photo was taken. He had not taken it off since he had it. From interviews, people close to him said he slept with it, wore it everywhere and refused to take it off. He was prouder to have won it than anyone else. After the incident at the restaurant, he was angry at his treatment and felt unappreciated for the glory he brought back home. Later in interviews, he said, “I felt no pain and no regret… Only relief, and new strength.”
36 years later at the 1996 Atlanta, Georgia Olympic Games, Ali was given a new medal to replace the one thrown into the river.
The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, or The Second Street Bridge, was completed in 1929 and it linked Clarksville, Indiana to Second Street in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Rather than build from land to sea, the bridge was built from the center out; a method later used to construct other bridges such as the Bay Bridge in Oakland, California. The architects Ralph Modjesk and Frank Masters designed this bridge as a Cantilever Bridge which uses arms attached to anchors to suspend the center of the bridge. The cost to build this bridge was $4.8 million, or $78 million in today’s money.
The bridge is very special to the city of Louisville. It is a state highway and the only bridge without a toll in the downtown area today. When it was built, however, there was a 35-cent toll to cross. Also, this bridged helped relieve traffic on the much older K&I train and vehicle bridge that was opened in 1870. Later, more bridges were built in the downtown area including the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, that was opened in 1963 and the Abraham Lincoln Bridge that was opened in 2015. These two bridges serve Interstate 65 traffic.
Although the bridge is cool looking and magnificent, there is more history to it that is associated with a local figure. 18-year-old Cassius Clay (changed to Muhammad Ali later), a world-famous boxer, proud and full of joy after winning gold in boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, came back to his home city of Louisville with praise, a parade, and a step towards equal rights… so he thought. At a restaurant located in an alley near the bridge, Clay was face to face with 1960 Jim Crowe America. He attempted to enter a “whites only” restaurant to give it a shot and see if they would let him enter. Unfortunately, he walked into slurs, hatred, and a gang of angry white men wanting to try and steal his medal. Stupidly, the white men tried to fight off and scare the Olympic Gold Medalist, with his medal over his neck, but failed to take it.
Cassius left and walked along the Second Street Bridge, angry at how society had treated a hometown hero. He took his medal he worked so hard for and threw it over the edge close to where the photo was taken. He had not taken it off since he had it. From interviews, people close to him said he slept with it, wore it everywhere and refused to take it off. He was prouder to have won it than anyone else. After the incident at the restaurant, he was angry at his treatment and felt unappreciated for the glory he brought back home. Later in interviews, he said, “I felt no pain and no regret… Only relief, and new strength.”
36 years later at the 1996 Atlanta, Georgia Olympic Games, Ali was given a new medal to replace the one thrown into the river.
House of the Champion
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., famously known as Muhammad Ali, was one of the greatest boxers who ever lived. He grew up in this little pink house in the West End of Louisville, KY in the Parkland neighborhood. His home was one block away from a redlined area of town. Cassius (at the time) moved into this house at 3302 Grand Ave. with his family when he was 5 years old in 1947. His parents Odessa and Cassius Sr. and brother Rahman lived in this house until Cassius Jr was 19, one year after his gold medal winning fight at the Rome Olympic games.
From here Clay would bike to school and the gym located a few miles away. Cassius attended Central High School which was the only public high school in the city for African Americans. Due to racial segregation in the 50’s and 60’s, he had to attend that school. Since it was a magnet school, students from anywhere in the city could attend. The gym Cassius worked out in was 3.5 miles from his home and his school was about 3 miles away from his house.
From here, Clay grew up surrounded by segregation. Many times, he was denied drinks of water, food, and service in the city for the color of his skin. This really bothered Cassius and led him to take a role fighting for equal rights. As a rising star in boxing, he started to promote the push for civil rights and equality in the USA. While in high school, he achieved an amateur record of 100-5, an Olympic gold medal and many prestigious awards in the state before turning pro after graduating in late 1960. From there he became a prominent boxer and civil rights activist.
Since then, the house, once in declining condition, has been restored to its original condition. It is now a museum.
From here Clay would bike to school and the gym located a few miles away. Cassius attended Central High School which was the only public high school in the city for African Americans. Due to racial segregation in the 50’s and 60’s, he had to attend that school. Since it was a magnet school, students from anywhere in the city could attend. The gym Cassius worked out in was 3.5 miles from his home and his school was about 3 miles away from his house.
From here, Clay grew up surrounded by segregation. Many times, he was denied drinks of water, food, and service in the city for the color of his skin. This really bothered Cassius and led him to take a role fighting for equal rights. As a rising star in boxing, he started to promote the push for civil rights and equality in the USA. While in high school, he achieved an amateur record of 100-5, an Olympic gold medal and many prestigious awards in the state before turning pro after graduating in late 1960. From there he became a prominent boxer and civil rights activist.
Since then, the house, once in declining condition, has been restored to its original condition. It is now a museum.