Churchill to hold races on Sunday before Kentucky Derby for first time in 16 years

Churchill Downs this year will run on the Sunday prior to the Kentucky Derby for the first time since 2010. The track will also run its opening-day card during the afternoon rather than at night, the track said on Wednesday.

The addition of the Sunday, April 26, card means that Churchill will run live every day except Monday from opening day on April 25 until the Derby card on Saturday, May 2.

Churchill shifted its spring meet opening-day card to nighttime racing in 2011 after completing a project to install lights at the track. The addition of the Sunday card would have led to a quick turnaround for staff and horsemen if the opening-day card remained a nighttime event.

Tickets for the spring meet go on sale Thursday. Tickets for the Derby and the May 1 card, featuring the Kentucky Oaks, went on sale in November.

Churchill is scheduled to host 44 live racing dates during its spring meet, which wraps up on June 28.

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