Churchill Downs will monitor, limit use of its turf course

Churchill Downs will limit the use of its turf course because of possible problems with the surface.

Churchill moved turf races to dirt on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, despite a lack of rain. The decision to limit turf racing was reported Monday by Daily Racing Form.

In a statement to Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday, Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers said, "We’ve decided it’s best to limit the number of turf races because we’re dissatisfied with the course’s current status. The preservation of fresh running lanes appears to provide better ground, but it’s a day-to-day decision. We’ve had good, open dialogue with the jockeys to get productive feedback, and we’ll continue to monitor the course one day at a time."

Churchill Downs unveiled a new, $10 million turf course in spring 2022. It began moving races off the turf six weeks later amid numerous complaints from horsemen and jockeys about the course’s loose footing and other problems.

Two turf races are set for Churchill when racing resumes Wednesday. Two of those, including the featured eighth race, are scheduled for the turf.