LOUISVILLE, KY. — Churchill Downs took widespread criticism for a perceived lack of hospitality last year, with the harshest shot coming from Steve Coburn, co-owner of 2014 Kentucky Derby champion California Chrome.
Track officials say they've tried to respond this year, spending $4.2 million to create 18-seat suites for the owners of each Derby horse and borrowing from the Preakness Stakes the practice of assigning a driver to the connections of each horse.
"When people, whether it's public or private, mention something to us, we try to listen and do something about it," said Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher. "Sure, we took that to heart and looked at what we did and went to work on making it better."
He said Churchill officials looked at the best hospitality practices from other Triple Crown tracks and borrowed some, such as the courtesy drivers.
"I don't think every criticism was a fair criticism, but some of them were," Asher said. "I'm anxious to hear what people say after this year's Derby."
The early feedback has been favorable.
"Churchill has done great this year," said Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of 15-1 Derby choice Frosted. "I'm a Kentucky native, and I've been here for a lot of years. I'm very, very pleased with the changes they've made, and they deserve a pat on the back."
It was at last year's Preakness where Coburn fired his salvo at Churchill Downs, saying he'd enjoyed a far more pleasant week in Baltimore. "I honestly believe that it was a bad, bad day at Churchill," he said. "Even though we won, it was a bad day for my partner and his family."
Churchill also took criticism from Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte for what he called poor treatment at last year's Derby.