Churchill to Resume Live Racing Nov. 21
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Following back-to-back cancellations because of a frozen racetrack, racing at Churchill Downs will resume racing Nov. 21 at 12:40 p.m. EST with its regularly scheduled 10-race program.
"Our superb track maintenance team has diligently worked around the clock to ensure that we have a suitable cushion, and after assessing the track condition this afternoon (Nov. 20), we concluded that it's safe to resume training and racing," Churchill president Kevin Flanery said. "Horses on the track Friday will be a welcomed sight for all involved."
The one-mile dirt surface is expected to be open for training from 6-10 a.m. Friday. Two races are scheduled for the Matt Winn Turf Course but a decision on whether they remain on grass won't be made until Friday morning.
The most recent day of training was Nov. 17. But snow that morning followed by frigid temperatures left the track frozen, and 10-race cards scheduled for Nov. 19-20 were canceled.
Churchill's track maintenance team, a 26-person operation led by David Lehr, senior director of track surfaces, and Jamie Richardson, assistant track superintendent, will continue to harrow and grade the racing surface Thursday and into Friday to ensure it doesn't refreeze.
The National Weather Service forecast for Louisville Nov. 20 called for mostly sunny skies with a high near 34 degrees and a west wind around 10 miles per hour. Temperatures were expected to fall to a low around 20 overnight and rise to 38 with sunshine Nov. 21.
A high of 51 is forecast for Nov. 22 with a 30% chance of showers after 8 a.m. The Nov. 23 forecast calls for an 80% chance of rain with a high near 61. The average temperature in Louisville this time of year is typically in the upper 50s.
Churchill intends to make up as many of the canceled races as possible by adding races to its remaining programs. Closing day of the fall meet is Nov. 30, which means only eight scheduled racing dates remain.
An 11-race program is scheduled for Nov. 22 highlighted by the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Eleven races also were carded for Nov. 23. Both weekend programs will end at 5:38 p.m. EST, a half-hour later than originally scheduled.