Kentucky Derby to be Run Without Fans

[Wandering Eyes]

The Kentucky Derby will be run Sept. 5 without fans in attendance due to health and safety concerns during the ongoing pandemic, Churchill Downs announced Friday afternoon.

“Churchill Downs has worked diligently over the last several months to plan a safe Derby with a limited number of spectators in attendance,” Friday’s statement read. “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. We have made the difficult decision to hold this year’s Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 without fans. Churchill Downs and all of our team members feel strongly that it is our collective responsibility as citizens of Louisville to do all we responsibly can to protect the health, safety and security of our community in these challenging times and believe that running the Derby without spectators is the best way to do that. We deeply regret the disappointment this will bring to our loyal fans.”

Churchill Downs officials have been in consultation with public health authorities, including medical experts at Norton Healthcare, since May. Positivity rates in the more than 70,000 patients tested at Norton have gone from as low as 2% in June to a rapid escalation of 10% in recent days.

“The virus is still aggressively spreading in Kentucky, and the White House has announced that Jefferson County and the City of Louisville are in a ‘red zone’ based on increases in cases. This week alone the county had more than 2,300 new cases,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said. “I applaud Churchill Downs for continuing to monitor the virus and for making the right and responsible decision. I am asking all Kentuckians to take action to stop the spread of the virus so we can get back to the many traditions we enjoy, like the Kentucky Derby.”

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., added, “This year’s Kentucky Derby was never going to be the celebration we’re used to, but I could not be more grateful to our tremendous team members and community partners for all of their efforts. We’ve left no stones unturned and reached the right decision. We hope our fans, the Louisville community and our country find an opportunity over the coming weeks to reflect on the challenges we have faced this year as a community and as a nation, and work together toward a better and safer future.”

The Sept. 4 card, highlighted by the GI Kentucky Oaks, will also be conducted without fans. Ticket holders for all Derby week race dates and related programming, including Dawn at the Downs, will be automatically issued a refund.

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