Kentucky Derby attendance limited to 40 percent of seating capacity

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Churchill Downs has placed new restrictions on attendance for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby as coronavirus positives surge in the state, limiting total attendance to approximately 24,000 people and closing the infield, the company announced on Wednesday.

Changes to Churchill’s attendance policies for the Derby appeared to be inevitable over the past several weeks as coronavirus cases in the state jumped markedly beginning three weeks ago. Though the company had not been specific about how many people would be allowed to attend the event this year, Churchill officials had previously said that they would enforce social-distancing guidelines for the 60,000 reserved seats in its grandstand and open the track’s 26-acre infield to general admission.

Under the new plan, the infield will be closed, and all tickets sold for the area will be refunded, the track said. The track has now restricted ticketing to 40 percent of its reserved seats, or 24,000, the company said. Anyone who has purchased tickets to areas that will now be closed will be “reseated in a new comparable location,” Churchill said in a release.

The new plan was hashed out in discussions with state health and government officials. Three weeks ago, bars in Kentucky were ordered closed and restaurant capacity was reduced to 25 percent in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. On Tuesday, bars were able to re-open and restaurant capacity was increased to 50 percent, despite no measurable progress in reducing the number of cases in the state.

“We will have fewer guests at this year’s Derby as reducing the size of the crowd is an important step to ensuring a safe environment,” said Kevin Flanery, the track’s president, in a release. “Medical best practices and protocols – many of which we have applied in consultation with experts both inside and outside the sport industry – will be implemented, and we’ll make adjustments all the way up to Derby Day as we find ways to improve and continue to adhere to ever-evolving best practices.”

Originally scheduled for May 2, the Derby was rescheduled this year to Sept. 5 in the midst of the nationwide disruption caused by the coronavirus in the late spring. Churchill is also planning to run four live race cards prior to Derby Saturday, including the Kentucky Oaks card on Sept. 4.

Churchill said that all patrons will be required to wear face coverings “upon entrance and movement within” the facility. The track said that patrons who refuse to comply with its protocols will receive a warning and that “repeat offenders will be escorted from the property.”

Churchill said in the release that “additional protocols for stable area personnel and race participants [jockeys, trainers, grooms, etc.] will be finalized in the coming days.” Riders who have Derby mounts are anxiously awaiting word on those requirements, as many top jockeys may have to make critical decisions to quarantine prior to riding at the track, costing them money on their home circuits.

The Kentucky Derby is an enormous money-maker for Churchill, in no small part due to high-priced tickets and food and beverage revenues. Churchill’s attendance record for Derby Day is 170,513, the track says, set in 2015. Churchill’s parent company has invested hundreds of millions of dollars over the last two decades to leverage the popularity of the event, adding a number of upscale areas to the grandstand.

On-track wagering on Derby Day usually runs between $21 million and $23 million, according to figures provided by Churchill. Oaks Day on-track handle generally totals approximately $10 million.