Churchill Mulls Presentation of 'My Old Kentucky Home'

Amid heightened tensions in Louisville and the United States over social justice issues, the future of one of Kentucky Derby Day's touchstone moments—the playing of Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home"—remains under discussion, a spokeswoman for Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. said.

CDI's Tonya Abeln stopped short of confirming that the song will be played as it has been for decades when Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) entrants parade before the Twin Spires.

"We are taking a close look at our practices, community partnerships, and traditions to ensure we are carrying out the Derby in a way that honors and respects our city and all of the people in our community, including close consideration of how the singing of 'My Old Kentucky Home' is presented at the Kentucky Derby this year and moving forward," Abeln said.

When asked whether that confirmed that "My Old Kentucky Home" would be played this year, Abeln replied: "There is still a great deal of thoughtful dialogue surrounding the song, so I cannot yet definitively say what it will look like."

The origins of playing the Stephen Foster song are unclear but date back as much as a century, according to a description on the Kentucky Derby website.

That description summed up the experience by saying, "In all the world of sports there is possibly not a more moving experience for both spectator and participant than the playing of 'My Old Kentucky Home' as the horses step onto the track for the Kentucky Derby."

The song and its lyrics have been debated for years, with detractors saying it diminishes the human suffering of slavery while defenders credit the song's lyrics, in the voice of a slave, with humanizing Blacks of the time.

Before last year's Derby, Louisville Courier-Journal columnist Joseph Gerth called for the song to be eliminated from the Derby and other events, including suggesting that the legislature remove it as the state song.

"To celebrate slavery in Kentucky, as if the barbaric institution was better here than elsewhere, is just wrong," Gerth wrote.

Regardless of what's done with the song this year, social justice issues are part of the discussion for the 146th Derby, both in Louisville and nationally. The death in mid-March of Breonna Taylor, who was shot by Louisville police executing a no-knock search warrant at her home, and the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis have led to daily protests in Louisville and throughout the country.

According to news accounts, protests are being planned in the city—including near the track—for Derby weekend. Accounts have said some local people and national groups protesting in Louisville have called for the cancellation of the race.

In moving forward with the race, Churchill officials hope the event can be a step toward normalcy as the other big story of 2020, COVID-19, places restrictions on everyday life that will mean no fans at this year's race. Appearing on CNBC Aug. 27, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said Louisville wants the Derby to go forward for its 146th consecutive year—the longest such streak of any major sporting event.

"The community, in general, overwhelmingly supports having the Derby," he said. "That doesn't mean that we're not sensitive (to) and a part of the dialogue on the social and racial equality issues in our community and in our society." 

Churchill supports a number of community-oriented causes, including Simmons College of Kentucky, a private, historically black college in Louisville, and the Legacy Equine Academy, which exposes minority students to career and mentorship opportunities in horse racing. 

"We think it is important for students to see that there is a place for them in the horse racing industry and to be proactive in demonstrating that there is opportunity for them at Churchill Downs," Abeln said in a statement.

Protests are far from new to the Derby and the track. A 1967 protest over housing discrimination in Louisville by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. originally was scheduled for Churchill Downs but was moved downtown. Several years later, with Louisville reacting to forced busing for school desegregation, a National Guardsman scooped up a smoke grenade that was thrown on the track during the 1976 running of the race.

Viewers of this year's Derby across the country will be shown what's occurring in Louisville. The protests will be part of coverage by both the NBC news and sports divisions, said Rob Hyland, the coordinating producer of horse racing for NBC Sports.

"The news reports will be a part of the Friday and Saturday Oaks (G1) and Derby coverage," Hyland said in a Derby preview conference call with media. "NBC News will have additional reporters in Louisville that weekend for multiple news platforms and outlets, but Blayne Alexander will be working specifically with our production at NBC Sports to report on expected protests following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor this March in Louisville, and that decision was made a while ago."

Besides not having fans in attendance, The Associated Press reported Gov. Andy Beshear will not be at the track to present the trophy as Kentucky governors have done for decades, although he will take part in the ceremony using a prerecorded video.

The possibility of protests this year has led to questions and responses from horsemen about the situation.

Barclay Tagg, the trainer of heavy morning-line favorite Tiz the Law and the conditioner of 2003 Derby winner Funny Cide, said on an Aug. 28 National Thoroughbred Racing Association media teleconference that he's "very concerned" about protests.

"And I couldn't be anything else, but very, very concerned," he said. "I don't want my people hurt. I don't want myself hurt. I don't want the horse hurt, and the world is crazy right now. And hopefully we can pull it off without something disastrous happening."

Then, on Sept. 1 after the the post-position draw, Barclay told reporters, "I don't know what these guys are going to do, these rioters. Who knows? All I know is you're not allowed to shoot them, and they're allowed to shoot you. That's what it looks like to me, so I don't know what to think about it."

On the Aug. 28 NTRA media conference call, Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf was asked about the atmosphere of a crowdless Derby.

"I think that depending on how the protesters react and act will determine a lot, but … once we get in, the actual race is going to be something else," Wolf said.

Horse owner, businessman, and former Churchill director Bruce Lunsford gave credit to the company for navigating the controversy.

"Churchill's done a superb job of staying out of the spotlight of controversy. … I think they've handled it really well," said Lunsford, whose 3-year-old Art Collector was a main Derby contender until a minor injury led him not to be entered. "I don't think there's been any damage done because of the racetrack, and I think it's going to be a good day."