Kentucky Downs requests two additional dates for 2020

With Kentucky Downs sure to set wagering records again at its five-day meet, which ends Thursday, officials at the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky have requested two additional dates from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for its 2020 meet.

“We have the purse money, we have the growth,” said Ted Nicholson, the track’s senior vice president and general manager. “We’re constantly getting asked, why aren’t we running seven days? It does lend itself to the obvious. At some point this has to happen, and next year is where we feel it should start.”

Nicholson said he prefers to add another date on Labor Day weekend and that he is in discussions with the new ownership at Ellis Park, which traditionally conducts racing that weekend. He said he anticipates Kentucky Downs again transferring a “substantial” amount of purse money to Ellis in 2020. This year, Kentucky Downs transferred $5 million to the Ellis purse account.

Dates for 2020 will be assigned by the KHRC on Nov. 1.