A Surreal Kentucky Derby Day Inside Churchill Downs

A Kentucky Derby like no other. 

That's the only way to describe the scene at midday at Churchill Downs leading up to the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), which will be run Sept. 5 around 7 p.m. ET. Fans are absent from the massive grandstand here, which regularly accommodates 150,000 people or more for Derby.

Not for its 146th running today. Only horsemen, limited media, and owners and owners' guests are permitted amid COVID-19 restrictions and social justice protests that have been ongoing since the spring in the city.

Some scenes from a fanless #kyderby day. The racewatching area for horsepeople and paddock are two of the few places that feel even remotely normal. pic.twitter.com/uMVJslM5K5

— Byron King (@BH_BKing) September 5, 2020

As if that was not enough, Longfield Avenue—located near the end of the mile chute at Churchill Downs—was closed as of 12:45 p.m. A police officer rerouted Evan Hammonds of BloodHorse as he sought to park, telling him it was due to a shooting in the area. According to early press reports, it does not appear to be protest-related and occurred in the neighborhood near the Churchill Downs backstretch. WDRB reported the suspect barricaded himself in a house.

Police later began clearing the scene around 2:45 p.m.

Racial justice protests are anticipated outside of the track later today, but around noon on Saturday, there were few individuals to be found on Central Avenue, which borders the track and its principal entrance. Police cars outnumbered the people on Central, which, as is typical on Derby Day, is shut down for vehicular traffic. This year it appears to be a pre-emptive move for managing protest activity, not a crowd-control measure for the limited number of industry race attendees.

Cars are searched that park onsite on Churchill Downs, and in keeping with COVID-19 safety measures, temperature checks are given and standard health questions are asked upon arrival.

Some vehicles carrying owners parked in the infield, including a school bus carrying the members of Sackatoga Stable, the owners of Derby favorite Tiz the Law. Sackatoga memorably arrived via bus in 2003 when they won the Derby with Funny Cide.

Only in 2020 would Derby parking in the infield be a sound idea.

At least the action is still ongoing on the racetrack. The Derby Day card offers some compelling stakes races, set to gear up in the middle of the afternoon. The stakes action gets underway in the eighth of 14 races today with the American Turf Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2T) going off at 2:55 p.m. Stakes then continue through the Derby, the day's final race.

The main track is fast and the turf course has been upgraded to firm. Here are the scratches for the day's stakes:

Race 8: The American Turf

Sunsation (6)

Race 9: The Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2)

Cezanne (1), No Parole (7)

Race 10: The Iroquois Stakes Presented by Ford (G3)

Dreamer's Disease (5)

Race 11: Longines Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (G2T)

She'sonthewarpath (1), Harmless (5) 

Race 12: Derby City Distaff Presented By Derby City Gaming (G1)

Mia Mischief (1), Crazy Sexy Munny (5), Lady Kate (7)

Race 13: Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T)

No changes.

Race 14: The Kentucky Derby

Finnick the Fierce (1), King Guillermo (6)