KHRC signs off on September Kentucky Derby; other tracks shift dates

In an emergency meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, held via teleconference Thursday due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Churchill Downs was awarded five race dates that will make up 2020 Kentucky Derby week this September.

The Commission unanimously approved the transfer so that Churchill can run Sept. 1-5, a Tuesday through Saturday culminating with the Derby.

During the meeting, it was disclosed that Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park, other in-state tracks previously scheduled to run on some of those dates, expressed approval of the changes.

The racing commission has the power to grant schedule changes in times of natural disasters or any event that can disrupt normal operations, which applies to the coronavirus epidemic.

As a result of the calendar shifts, Kentucky Downs' new 2020 race dates are Sept. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16. Ellis Park will end its meet on Sunday, Aug. 30, one week earlier than originally scheduled.

There were three agenda items for the emergency KHRN meeting, which was called ahead of the next regular meeting on Apr. 21. The commission also unanimously approved the following:

• A motion to cede power to Executive Director Marc Guilfoil to make emergency regulatory decisions on behalf of the commission, pending approval by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and filing by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. The KHRC would retain the right to withdraw the delegation of that power at any time. • An alternate facility designation for Turfway Park, which will be doing business from a renovated property known as the Newport Plaza Shopping Center. It will house not only Turfway Park office space, but a simulcast center, as well as a floor for up to 500 historical horse racing machines. Revenue derived from those machines will go to Kentucky racing purses. Churchill Downs Inc. recently purchased Turfway and will be rebuilding the facility in Florence, Ky.