This year's Kentucky Derby has been postponed to September. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Churchill Downs Inc. announced Tuesday that the Kentucky Derby will be postponed, as global coronavirus cases top 182,000. The ubiquitous horse race, which draws more than 150,000 to Louisville, will now be held over Labor Day weekend in September.
“Our team is united in our commitment to holding the very best Kentucky Derby ever and certainly the most unique in any of our lifetimes,” wrote CDI’s CEO Bill Carstanjen in a statement. “While we are always respectful of the time-honored traditions of the Kentucky Derby, our company’s true legacy is one of resilience, the embracing of change and unshakeable resolve.”
The Kentucky Derby is one of the sports calendar’s most popular events, notching over 16 million television viewers. It’s among the highest-attended events to be affected by Covid-19; according to the Forbes cancellation tracker, more than 35 million event attendees have had their plans changed because of the virus.
Also rescheduled is the Kentucky Oaks, a smaller race run the day before the derby, which has reportedly hosted over 100,000 fans. The Kentucky Oaks will be on September 4, 2020, and the Kentucky Derby will be on September 5, 2020, pending the likely approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
