Kentucky Derby attendance plan updated to include fewer fans

Churchill Downs Racetrack officials released a detailed 62-page health and safety operations plan that will limit attendance to the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, Sept. 5, to less than 14% of total capacity from the 2015 attendance record.

The Kentucky Derby was originally scheduled for May 5. A record crowd of 170,513 attended the event in 2015. Because of physical distancing protocols and other safety measures in place to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19, fewer than 23,000 guests are expected Sept. 5 for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby 146.

There will be no general admission this year. Churchill Downs stated in late June that general admission would be limited to the 26-acre Infield. However, given current circumstances, pre-purchased general admission tickets will be refunded, and the infield will be closed. Related: Kentucky Derby Probables– 20 horse field still possible]

Reserved seating will be limited to a maximum of 40% occupancy. Also, standing room only or “walk around” tickets have been eliminated. All outdoor ticket holders will be reseated in a new comparable location either prior to or during the event to provide for maximum distancing.

Temperature checks, medical questionnaires, physical distancing and mandatory face coverings will be required upon entrance and movement within the 190-acre Churchill Downs. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Each guest will receive a courtesy “Healthy at the Track” bag, which will include a disposable mask, a pocket-sized hand sanitizer and a personal stylus for non-contact self-service wagering. Compliance of Churchill Downs’ public safety measures is a condition of admittance and will be strictly enforced. Offenders will receive a warning; repeat offenders will be escorted from the property. “The opportunity to safely welcome back a limited number of guests to Churchill Downs on the first week of September is a privilege that our team doesn’t take for granted,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. “Our extensive plan meets or exceeds all recommended state and local guidelines. We’ve received an exceptional level of support from regulators, medical experts and public health authorities and we’ll continue to carefully work with them to ensure we’re doing everything we can to keep our customers, employees and communities safe. “We will have fewer guests at this year’s Derby as reducing the size of the crowd is an important step to ensuring a safe environment. Medical best practices and protocols — many of which we have applied in consultation with experts both inside and outside the sports industry — will be implemented, and we’ll make adjustments all the way up to Derby Day as we find ways to improve and continue to adhere to ever-evolving best practices. “The role of the Kentucky Derby and its importance to our community and the nation as a whole takes on even greater significance this year. Over the past several months, our country has faced both the spread of COVID-19 and a moment of national reckoning with racial inequities following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. These important issues deserve thoughtful discussion, continued conversation and subsequent action. To this end, the atmosphere at this year’s Kentucky Derby will not be the celebration it normally is. However, we’re optimistic that this time-honored event, which belongs to our community and our country, will serve as a progressive unifying force that can help bring us together.” Churchill Downs’ detailed 62-page health and safety operations plan was developed over the last four months in close collaboration with public health experts and other relevant stakeholders. Advice and counsel from the Louisville Metro Health Department along with key elements of Kentucky’s Healthy at Work guidance are incorporated throughout the document. This plan will allow Churchill Downs to safely and responsibly host Kentucky Derby Week (Tuesday, Sept. 1, through Saturday, Sept. 5) with a limited number of spectators. The original plan was approved by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in late June, and this version exceeds all recommended state and local guidelines and is subject to continued review. Highlights of the plan include:

• Attendance will be limited with no Standing Room Only or “Walk Around” tickets and a maximum of 40% occupancy of reserved seats.

• With the reduced capacity, guest shuttles from offsite parking locations are being eliminated and guests are encouraged to utilize neighborhood-parking options. Refunds will be made to all attending ticket holders that had offsite parking included with a reserved seat. 

View the full plan below: