Churchill Downs Turf Condition Report

Churchill Downs’ turf course was in the news Nov. 2 after the connections of foreign invader Workforce, the early favorite for the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), said the horse might not run because of concerns that it was too firm after his negative reaction to it. There also were reports that other European horses might defect as well.

With Kentucky's Louisville area in the midst of a severe drought, the course “is about as firm as it ever gets in the fall,” said Butch Lehr, a Churchill vice president who serves as track superintendent. "But we’re way out on the outside part (for morning training purposes) where we don’t race, and it’s better down in there on the inside where they’re going to be running.”

Lehr on Nov. 2 discussed the turf course’s condition and the maintenance challenges his staff has faced because of the drought.

“We mowed it for the last time about three days ago,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of frosts on it, and we’re not planning on mowing it again unless we have summertime (weather conditions) come back because it’s now starting to go dormant.”