Churchill Downs officials announce that there will be no live audience for America’s most famous horse race on 5th September after a spike in Coronavirus cases in the Louisville region.
On Friday, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced that it has abandoned its original plan to allow a limited number of fans in the grandstands to witness the 146th chapter of the Kentucky Derby. The decision to hold America’s most famous horse race without live spectators in the grandstands was reached after a significant surge in COVID-19 cases was recorded in and around the Louisville area.
2020’s installment of The Run for the Roses was to be held before a scaled-down audience, from the usual crowd of 160,000+ spectators, to only allow 14% capacity at the grandstands – an audience of 23,000 fans. However, after the recent coronavirus developments, it was no longer feasible to hold the event with a crowd and still guarantee the health and safety of the attending spectators.
Part of the official statement released by Tonya Alben, the Vice President of Corporate Communications at Churchill Downs Inc., through the official Kentucky Derby website, reads;
Quote“Churchill Downs and all of our team members feel strongly that it is our collective responsibility as citizens of Louisville to do all we responsibly can to protect the health, safety, and security of our community in these challenging times and believe that running the Derby without spectators is the best way to do that. We deeply regret the disappointment this will bring to our loyal fans.”
Derby Week Ticket Holders to Receive Refunds
This is a huge blow for event organizers, participants, and fans because The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports had been pulled from its regular spot on the first Saturday of May to 5th September in hopes of accommodating a live audience.
The Churchill downs had even gone as far as releasing a 62-page dossier mapping out the details of the adjusted attendance, down to the T. Unfortunately, albeit for good cause, this is the first time in the long 146-year old history of the Kentucky Derby that the event will run without any spectators in the grandstands.
Kevin Flanery, the President of Churchill downs also gave a press briefing on Friday, voicing his regret on the matter by saying that;
Quote“…with Louisville being tagged a red zone city by the CDC this week, we just felt that we could not responsibly bring in 23,000 fans to the facility for the Derby. It's not an easy decision, it’s one that we tried as best we could to get over the finish line with it. But ultimately, the safety of our guests, the community, our employees is the No. 1 priority.”
Like the Run for The Roses, other events of the Derby week which are to take place between 1st and 5th September will also be held with empty grandstands. That includes the Kentucky Oaks, planned for Friday, 4th September, and all other live races at the Churchill Downs Racetrack.
The only individuals who will be allowed in the property will be the essential support personnel and the participants. All fans who had purchased Derby week tickets and any other associated programs related to the event including the Dawn at the Downs will automatically receive refunds.
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