After several attempts to dwindle down the capacity, the decision has finally been made to hold this year’s Kentucky Derby without fans.Churchill Downs made the announcement to reverse course on Friday. It said, in part:”Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance. We were confident in that plan, but dedicated to remaining flexible using the best and most reliable information available. With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning.”Read the full statement here | A news conference will be held at 4:45 p.m.The last plan had cut spectators to about 14%.The delayed 146th Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Sept. 5, just over two weeks away. Churchill Downs said the new policy applies to the Kentucky Oaks and all other live races that week.Anyone with tickets for those races will get an automatic refund.Churchill Downs said they got support from Gov. Andy Beshear, who called this the “right and responsible decision.”Earlier this week, Beshear displayed White House data showing Jefferson County in a “red zone” based on cases. It’s the worst classification for their data, signifying that those counties are in a “critical” situation. WLKY will update this story soon.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
After several attempts to dwindle down the capacity, the decision has finally been made to hold this year’s Kentucky Derby without fans.
Churchill Downs made the announcement to reverse course on Friday. It said, in part:
“Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance. We were confident in that plan, but dedicated to remaining flexible using the best and most reliable information available. With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning.”
Read the full statement here | A news conference will be held at 4:45 p.m.
The last plan had cut spectators to about 14%.
The delayed 146th Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Sept. 5, just over two weeks away. Churchill Downs said the new policy applies to the Kentucky Oaks and all other live races that week.
Anyone with tickets for those races will get an automatic refund.
Churchill Downs said they got support from Gov. Andy Beshear, who called this the “right and responsible decision.”
Earlier this week, Beshear displayed White House data showing Jefferson County in a “red zone” based on cases. It’s the worst classification for their data, signifying that those counties are in a “critical” situation.
WLKY will update this story soon.