Churchill Downs requests 12 racing days for September 2014

Churchill Downs in Louisville has requested 12 September live-racing dates for the second consecutive year, according to documents released on Friday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Churchill has asked the commission to approve the dates as part of a 74-date 2014 schedule, including 38 dates in the spring and 24 dates for the track’s traditional fall meet. Churchill also requested four optional days in September, to be run if track officials believe conditions warrant it.

The racing commission’s Race Dates Committee is expected to consider the dates requests at a meeting on Monday. The committee’s recommendation on the requests will be passed up to the full commission for a vote at a later date.

Turfway Park has requested an additional seven days of live racing for its winter meet by adding dates in February. Over the past several years, Turfway has steadily pared dates from its live schedule, including giving up its September dates last year to Churchill. While its winter meet might run longer in 2014, the track has requested three fewer days for its December holiday meet, for a total of 16 dates.