Kentucky Downs to make up canceled races on next two Wednesdays

Kentucky Downs received permission Thursday from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to make up six races lost to a violent storm that occurred just after the fourth of 10 races was run Wednesday at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky.

Three races will be added to each of the last two programs at the five-day meet, both of them Wednesdays (Sept. 18 and 25). The start time for the 13-race cards will be 12:35 p.m. Central, one hour earlier than what was originally scheduled.

Power to the television and tote systems were knocked out in the storm. One bolt of lightning struck a large tent under which patrons were taking shelter. According to track officials, at least three people were hurt, albeit not seriously, with one transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Several people gave accounts of the lightning incident via Twitter. “I was 10 feet away in the tent [that got hit],” wrote Rick Albright. “[Six or seven] people went down initially. Very scary stuff.”

The owners of all horses scheduled to run in the six cancelled races are being reimbursed with a $500 travel stipend.