Huffman: Churchill to Limit Turf Course Use in Fall

During the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee meeting Sept. 28, Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman said it is the track's intention to limit the use of its young turf course during its Fall Meet. The course experienced problems this spring and summer.

The track previously announced Aug. 23 that it had scrapped turf racing for its September Meet (Sept. 15-Oct. 2), with hopes to resume during the Fall Meet. Aside from a two-day break from the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Nov. 4-5, the Fall Meet is from Oct. 30-Nov. 27. 

Churchill Downs ran only two turf races on grass this summer when it hosted Arlington Million Day after writing off turf racing over the final three weeks of its Spring Meet. The new course was laid down as sod about a year ago.

"The turf course really looks good, and it's really coming along quite well. We're going to assess it one more time before we send the November condition book to the printer next week, but as we speak, as long as we feel comfortable, we are going to race some in November," Huffman said.

"What I mean by that is that we're going to baby the course. It will be very limited, perhaps one a day, if that. We do feel it's going to be ready for racing this November, but we don't want to tear it up or set it back."

The course showed noticeable wear after the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) and Arlington Million (G1T) were staged there in August. Those races, longtime fixtures at Arlington International Racecourse, were moved to Churchill Downs this year after Churchill Downs Inc. closed Arlington.

Reductions in turf course usage could impact the Claiming Crown and its three starter stakes races scheduled for turf there Nov. 12. The $150,000 Tiara, $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial, and $150,000 Emerald are the three Claiming Crown races scheduled for grass.

"There's a little anxiety about those races, but as we are monitoring this turf since early August, it's really come a long way especially since Arlington Million Day," Huffman said. "I feel like (it will) be determined in a couple more days; we will race on the turf course in November but it will be very limited."

Also mentioned during Wednesday's meeting was supplemental KDTF funding, which will be applied to the purses in the Claiming Crown races for a total of $130,000. 

Of the additional KDTF funding, Huffman noted: "There is no negative, I think it will just take a meet or two for people to realize they're getting more money."

Also announced Wednesday was backstretch construction at Turfway Park, which is now owned and operated by CDI. The newly constructed frontside facility opened for gaming earlier this month. Turfway hosts racing in Kentucky after the Churchill Downs meet wraps up.

"We'll have a total of five new barns at the beginning of our race meet in early January; we will have a 161 (unit), two-story dorm as well," said Chip Bach, general manager at Turfway. "We've actually upgraded nearly every barn on the grounds with new windows, new lights. I think our horsemen at the beginning of November are going to be very happy with the place they're coming back to." 

Actions by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee are subject to full Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval.