Kentucky governor continues 'back and forth' with Churchill Downs

During his Saturday question and answer session with media on the COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he spoke earlier in the afternoon with Churchill Downs officials about racing's immediate future in the state.

"I actually talked with Churchill right before we started this press conference," Beshear told reporters. "We are going back and forth. We are at the height, somewhere in the plateau, but that will be the height of this pandemic. "They have offered some really detailed proposals, and we’re trying to figure out the how and the when that it will be safe." Saturday would have marked opening night at Churchill Downs in a normal year with the Kentucky Derby one week later. While the Derby and its accompanying undercard stakes lineup were postponed until September, Churchill still wishes to run a Spring Meet. The first step is allowing horsemen currently stabled in locations such as Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas to return to the Churchill backside. The soonest that could happen, Churchill announced this week, is May 5 with racetrack president Kevin Flanery saying, "We’re working hard to reopen in a responsible and safe environment that will satisfy our public officials."

"The racing industry and public health," Beshear said Saturday, "we want to make sure it’s done safely and correctly."
On a few occasions the date was pushed back for allowing horsemen on the grounds at Churchill Downs and its Trackside training center once it became clear the original March 17 goal wouldn't work.

Racing was last conducted in Kentucky on March 25 at Turfway Park, which wound up cutting its meet three days short. Keeneland also canceled its Spring Meet that was to conclude Friday before the circuit shifts to Churchill, which has race dates through June.