Churchill Downs, Turfway Park Ready for Race Meets

Speaking during a videoconference of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee, a Churchill Downs executive suggested the Louisville track may begin allowing limited attendance when it opens for its fall meet Oct. 25.

"We hope to have spectators here at the track, depending on what happens with COVID-19 and positivity rates," said Tom Minneci, senior director of finance at Churchill Downs Inc. "But we are hoping to have patrons here at the track, albeit probably limited based on people's desire to get out and about during this pandemic."

Churchill Downs had initially sought to have restricted attendance during its week of racing at the track Sept. 1-5 that culminated with the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), though it ultimately scrapped those plans amid COVID-19 concerns and racial injustice protests that were taking place. 

Kentucky racing is ongoing without fans at the current meet at Keeneland in Lexington, though owners, some of their guests, and participating horsemen are still allowed on track. This followed similar protocols at Kentucky Downs last month.

The Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland will also be without fans as a result of the pandemic.

Ellis Park in Henderson is the only track in the state that has allowed some fans to attend racing during the pandemic.

Simulcasting at Churchill Downs reopened Oct. 1, Minneci said.

Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman said he had not yet finalized his fall meet condition book, but estimated to the committee that maiden special weight purses should be worth somewhere around $80,000-$85,000 for Kentucky-breds. The Churchill Downs meet is 24 racing days in length, running through Nov. 29, after a brief pause for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland.

Winter racing then takes place in Northern Kentucky at Turfway Park, which will run through March. Because Turfway's grandstand is being modernized and rebuilt, the track's frontside facilities for racing this winter will be temporary structures.

Simulcasting will take place at the track's off-track gaming center, Newport Racing and Gaming, where Turfway has the slot-like historical horse racing in operation. Turfway and Newport Racing and Gaming are also owned by CDI. 

Turfway's new Tapeta surface, which replaced its aging Polytrack, has been installed. Horses will be allowed to begin shipping into the track by Nov. 1 before training commences there a couple of days later, said Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach. This year the track received 2,400 stall applications for 900 spaces, he acknowledged.

Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, expressed hope that in future winters, Churchill's off-track training location, Churchill Downs Trackside, would remain open during the winter months. It has not in recent years.

"That will help that strain on the 900 stalls" at Turfway," he said. "Some of those Belterra guys who have been there through thick and thin will probably be jettisoned off (this year), I would imagine, because there are some strong outfits that are contemplating staying all winter."

Last winter and spring, CDI supplemented purses at Turfway with revenue from accrued purse funds from CDI's Louisville HHR gaming facility, Derby City Gaming, leading to maiden purses for Kentucky-breds being worth $46,000.

Minneci and other CDI officials could not guarantee they will match those purses this year. Revenues from Derby City Gaming and other HHR facilities are down this year after a suspension in operations during the spring and early summer months during the pandemic.

"We're trying to get as close as we can to what we offered last year," Minneci said.