A Winning Tradition Begins

On April 30, 2025, Churchill Downs Racetrack welcomed a new tradition to an already-full lineup of activities leading up to celebrating the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports. In celebration of Louisville's robust philanthropic community, the racetrack launched Winsday, a beacon of community spirit, the Wednesday of Derby Week, devoted to 50 nonprofit organizations working every day to better this place we call home.

In proud partnership with the Community Foundation of Louisville (CFL), and presented by Resolute Racing, Churchill Downs invited 50 local nonprofit organizations to fundraise and highlight the work they do to make Louisville a more vibrant place to live, work and play. Organizations were selected on a first-come, first-served basis in collaboration with CFL, through a registration process beginning in February 2025. All those who participated were guaranteed at least $500 in support from Churchill Downs.

By purchasing Winsday tickets through a registered nonprofit, guests directly contributed to these vital agencies, with a portion of each ticket sale benefiting their incredible work. Almost 1,000 guests purchased tickets through one of the links and attended the new Derby Week tradition.

Throughout the day, organizations had a chance to win one of many prizes through the Charity Post Draw, Second Chance Drawings and Supporter Drawings.

In total, participating nonprofits reported receiving over $120,000 in prize money, direct contributions and ticket-sale donations. The initiative inspired 549 donors to make 700 donations, reflecting the community's deep commitment to local causes.

For some organizations, the support was truly game-changing: "Receiving $20,000 on Winsday was a transformational moment for the Buy Local Louisville Foundation," shares Jennifer Rubenstein, Board Chair. "Our mission is to promote entrepreneurial and consumer education initiatives that build local economic strength-particularly in Louisville's disadvantaged areas. This support means we can do more, reach further and move faster. It gives us the ability to expand programs that empower local entrepreneurs and equip consumers with knowledge that strengthens our neighborhoods. This helps to create a more resilient, inclusive economy for all Louisvillians. We are especially excited to invest in capacity-expanding projects that will keep us going long into the future and provide those community benefits."

Hank Evans, Chief Development Officer for The de Paul School, shares similar feelings of elation. "The de Paul School is deeply grateful to Churchill Downs and the Community Foundation of Louisville for hosting such an incredible and meaningful event. Winsday gave us the chance to celebrate with our school champions, faculty, and supporters, connect with other nonprofits, and raise much-needed funds for our students. We were thrilled to be paired with the horse Journalism, who placed second in the Kentucky Derby, and thanks to their team's success, we received $20,000 that directly impacts our mission. For children with learning differences who may not have thrived in other learning environments, this support helps them unlock their brilliance, build confidence and discover 'The Joy of Learning.' The day was not only fun and full of community, but it left a lasting impact on our students' lives."

The week leading up to the Kentucky Derby is an exciting one-our city practically vibrates with energy. Beginning on Opening Night, the Saturday before the Derby (though Louisvillians know Derby season begins months before that), through the First Saturday in May, Churchill Downs Racetrack is the place to be. As the week goes on, the racetrack welcomes thousands of out-of-town guests to the Kentucky Derby, steeped in pageantry and nearly 152 years of tradition.

This year, in the middle of the week, we remembered what it means to be a member of this community-to live, work and play here. To raise families and belong here. The racetrack's inaugural Winsday was truly a beautiful acknowledgment of our hometown and its people, their stories, and the organizations that are there to lend us all a hand when we need it most.