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First Christian Helps Provide Care for Backside Workers at Churchill Downs


Chaplains began serving at Kentucky race tracks about 35 years ago with the founding in 1972 of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, a non-profit interdenominational organization.

As the ministry grew, the Kentucky division of the chaplaincy was formally established in 1989. Today, the interdenominational ministry has chaplains serving at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, and Turfway Park race tracks as well as thoroughbred training centers in Kentucky.

In 2016, First Christian Church member Nick Aulbach asked for a wholeness grant to help support the great work he had seen taking place on the "backside" of Churchill downs. With all of the great things happening there, the decision to provide a ministry grant was easy.

The backside of tracks can be compared to little communities, and there’s a sense of family among race track workers. The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy Ministry strives to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of those race track workers by offering:

  • Weekly worship services and Bible studies

  • Christ-centered activities that promote fellowship

  • Baptism, marriage and funeral services

  • Individual counseling

The Chaplaincy also serves as extended family for many workers. It helps to meet those in physical need by providing:

  • An emergency food pantry

  • Emergency clothes closet

  • Help with transportation

  • Free health clinics

  • Other similar services

We encourage you to watch the video above to see some of the things this ministry does and to hear a special word of thanks from Hall of Fame Jockey, Pat Day.

If you would like to learn more about the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy, you can visit their web-site by clicking here.

The wholeness grant used to fund this ministry was made possible through your faithful financial support of our church and its ministries and help fund a variety of efforts to make our world a better place. You can find more examples of those efforts or apply for a grant to make the world a better place by clicking here.

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