Kentucky racing commission approves new Derby date

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in a special meeting Thursday approved a request by Churchill Downs to run from Sept. 1-Sept. 5 in order to accommodate the rescheduled date of the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs announced Tuesday that it had postponed the Kentucky Derby until Sept. 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak. The track was not approved to race on that date, but Churchill officials had said Tuesday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission had backed the postponement and was expected to approve a request for additional dates.

The five-day slate of dates will enable Churchill to run its traditional Derby week features, including the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 and the Sept. 3 “Thurby,” the name given to the Thursday card by locals who avoid the track on Oaks and Derby days but take in the Thursday card.

Churchill is already scheduled to run 10 live dates in September, from Sept. 16 until Sept. 27. The September dates surrounding Labor Day are held by Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs, which did not object to Churchill Downs running the dates.

Churchill has still retained its traditional spring meet dates starting on April 25. Track officials have said they will announce plans for the spring meet “at a later date.”

The KHRC met on Thursday in its office but used videoconferencing to link commissioners, other officials, and the public to the meeting.