LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., is in discussions with Ellis Park in Henderson over an agreement that would allow Keeneland to run a number of live racing dates in July, according to Robert Elliston, the vice president of racing and sales at the track. Elliston would not provide specific dates targeted by Keeneland, but he said that the dates would be run in July. Ellis Park has been awarded all of the live racing dates for that month, but Keeneland is hopeful that Ellis would agree to give up some dates in order to allow Keeneland to run. “It won’t be one date and it won’t be 17,” Elliston said, on Friday morning. “But it would fall within Ellis’s July footprint.” Keeneland canceled its incredibly popular April meet, scheduled for 17 dates, in mid-March, as the COVID-19 pandemic began disrupting businesses across the country. Since then, Churchill Downs in Louisville has been given approval by the state government to run live racing spectator-free, with the first of its cards starting on Saturday. The weekend races drew overflow fields. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Keeneland opened its backstretch to ship-ins on Thursday, under approval from the office of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, using protocols that Churchill also has in place to minimize the potential spread of the virus. Elliston said that 650 horses were already on the backside in mid-March, and that the approval will allow the track to take in up to 400 more horses. Ellis Park has already ceded the last week of its meet to Churchill Downs so that the track can run a rescheduled Derby on Sept. 5, along with four cards leading up to the Derby. Under that arrangement, Ellis Park will be “made whole” for the dates it has lost, according to Churchill officials, and it is likely that Keeneland would need to come to a similar arrangement with Ellis. Ellis Park officials did not immediately respond to a phone call. Unfortunately for Lexington race fans, Keeneland has no plans to allow spectators for its July dates. “I’m disappointed too,” Elliston said. “I’m a racing fan. We’re all racing fans. But it’s just not something we can consider right now.” Elliston also said that purses for the dates in July would likely be below levels that the track anticipated offering for its spring meet. Since mid-March, casinos operated by tracks that provide purse subsidies to and that generate income for the tracks have been closed. That includes a casino co-owned by Keeneland at the Red Mile, a harness track in downtown Lexington. Elliston said that he could not comment on the specific stakes races that the track plans to offer during the July dates, but he said both the Ashland Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and the Blue Grass Stakes for 3-year-old colts would be run if the dates can be worked out with Ellis. Both of those races have been designated by Churchill Downs for points awarding berths in the Kentucky Oaks, rescheduled for Sept. 4, and the Kentucky Derby.