Churchill Downs published a 62-page plan for conducting the past 146th variant of America’s most famous horse race.
“Our extensive plan meets or surpasses all advocated state and local guidelines. We have received an exceptional amount of support from regulators, medical experts and public health authorities and we’re going to continue to carefully work together to ensure we are doing what we can to keep our customers, employees and communities safe.”
Kentucky Derby (2019) – Photo Courtesy of Churchill Downs
The Derby is scheduled for May, 1st
“We have fewer guests in this year’s Derby as reducing the size of this audience is an important step to ensuring a secure environment,” Flanery said. “Medical best practices and practices — many of which we’ve implemented in consultation with experts both inside and outside the sport sector — will be executed, and we are going to make adjustments all of the way up to Derby Day as we find ways to enhance and continue to stick to ever-evolving best practices”
Flanery went on to state how significant the Derby is to the Louisville community and the rest of the nation at a turbulent time.
“Our nation has faced the spread of COVID-19 and a moment of national reckoning with racial inequities after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many others,” Flanery said. “These critical issues deserve thoughtful conversation, continued conversation and subsequent actions. To this end, the air at this year’s Kentucky Derby won’t be the party it normally is. However, we are optimistic that this time-honored occasion, which belongs to our community and our nation, will act as a progressive unifying force which could help bring us together.”
Miriam Lee has always been a horse racing fan thanks to trips to the tracks in her home state of Maryland with her father as kid. She owns an OTTB and is an advocate for promoting the sport among her peers. Miriam studies communication arts at Hood College and will receive her master’s degree in 2021, which she plans to use for a career in screenwriting. Her all-time favorite racehorse is Man O War.
