Racing Into the Night
The air was balmy and the mood was festive as the spring meet at Churchill Downs kicked off on Saturday night. A crowd of 38,142 — a record for a non-Kentucky Oaks, Derby, or Breeders’ Cup day — packed the track to watch Machen overpower Dominus by a neck to win the Grade 3 Derby Trial. Eclipse Sportswire photographer Eric Patterson roamed the scene, capturing the giddiness and fun of opening night at Churchill.
All photos credit: Eric Patterson/Eclipse Sportswire
Jessica Chapel is the co-founder of Kentucky Confidential, founder of 
