Churchill Downs to Offer COVID-19 Vaccines for Workers

In partnership with Norton Healthcare, Churchill Downs will offer COVID-19 vaccinations beginning later this month to its backstretch and frontside workers, track officials said March 25 in a conference call with horsemen.

Gary Palmisano, special assistant to the track president at Churchill Downs, said a first round of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations would take place over three days from March 29-April 1, then the second dose in appointments from April 19-21. He said a second round of vaccinations for those not onsite for the initial dates will be made available around April 12.

Horsemen stabled at Churchill and those at Churchill Downs Trackside are eligible to receive the vaccine, which will be administered to backstretch workers in the track kitchen, Palmisano said. He intends to email trainers with a how-to guide for registering employees and scheduling appointments.

"Grooms, exercise riders, jockeys—any of those types of folks, we want to get them vaccinated, and in particular, the folks that live onsite at Churchill Downs," Palmisano added.

The Louisville track opened its backstretch for training last week in preparation for its spring meet that begins April 24. The track stages the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 1.

"My goal would be to get all of our participants, both frontside and backside, fully vaccinated before the Kentucky Derby," said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs.

Portions of backstretch populations across North American have been infected with COVID-19 over the past year of the pandemic, including at Churchill Downs, which had 47 individuals test positive when evaluated Aug. 19-24, shortly before last year's postponed Kentucky Derby. Golden Gate Fields in North California experienced a sizable outbreak with more than 300 cases this winter, which led to a suspension of racing for about two months.

The vaccination program by Churchill Downs and Norton Healthcare comes when Kentucky is opening vaccination appointments to more residents, not simply to older adults and those with preexisting medical conditions.

Just before making the vaccine announcement, Anderson encouraged trainers and their staff to remain diligent in following COVID-19 safety protocols.

"The last thing any of us need is any kind of COVID outbreak on our backside, the heartbeat of our track, just prior to our spring meet opening," he said.

Also on the conference call, Anderson told horsemen he expects a crowd of 25,000-30,000 to attend the Kentucky Derby in its grandstand or clubhouse reserved seating areas. Last year amid COVID-19 the Derby was run without paid attendance.

The estimated crowd is approximately 35%-50% of capacity for those areas, Anderson said. Masks will be required to be worn by attendees when not eating or drinking.

Dr. Will Farmer, equine medical director for Churchill Downs Inc., said Churchill will follow the same examination schedule for horses this spring meet that it had in 2020. The track also now requires Churchill-stabled horses receiving shock wave therapy to have the treatment done at its backstretch equine medical center.