Churchill Backstretch to Open May 11, Fair Grounds Horses Will Be First In

[Wandering Eyes]

Churchill Downs has been cleared by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to open its backstretch area May 11 so long as the track adheres to enhanced pandemic precautions approved by the state.

Beshear announced the clearance Wednesday at his daily COVID-19 video press conference as part of a phased-in reopening for various state industries. He did not specifically mention when live racing might begin.

Tonya Abeln, the vice president of corporate communications at Churchill, wrote in an email to TDN that a press release announcing details is being drafted, but that as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, “we are not yet ready to give a projected date for live racing to resume. That will be forthcoming but we will begin our phased approach to accepting horses on the backside on May 11 beginning with those currently at Fair Grounds.”

Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs are owned by the same corporate parent, the gaming company Churchill Downs, Inc.

The May 11 date was the first benchmark in a three-date series of phased-in reopenings in Kentucky. Other industries cleared to resume business with proper precautions on that date are manufacturing, construction, vehicle dealerships, professional services, and pet groomers.

On May 20, retail establishments and houses of worship will be able to open on a limited basis. On May 25, Kentucky expects to phase in the allowance of 10-person social gatherings and the reopening of health and beauty businesses like barbers and salons.

“We were able to come to an agreement [on Apr. 28] specifically with the group that’s going to start—Churchill Downs,” Beshear said. “They are going to start accepting horses and start accepting folks on the backside of the track on May 11. There will be no fans for racing, and I will tell you that this is one of the most detailed plans we have seen about specific security checks that everybody has to go through, [from] being temperature checked to masking for the limited group that is there.”

Beshear continued: “For the May 11 groups, I will have, the final, from our end, recommended requirements [available on Apr. 30].  We’re going to turn them around and get them to the associations…to comment on. And we hope to have the final [guidelines available] this coming Monday, so everybody will have a week [until May 11] to get ready.”

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