Kentucky Derby 146 Officially Postponed, Rescheduled to September

LOUISVILLE, KY – Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) announced today its decision to reschedule the 146^th Longines Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The 146^th Kentucky Derby will be rescheduled from May 2, 2020 to September 5, 2020 and the 146^th Kentucky Oaks will be rescheduled from May 1, 2020 to September 4, 2020. These dates are contingent upon final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission which we expect to receive on Thursday, March 19.

“Throughout the rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic, our first priority has been how to best protect the safety and health of our guests, team members and community,” CDI’s CEO, Bill Carstanjen said. “As the situation evolved, we reached the difficult conclusion that we needed to reschedule. At no point did we ever consider canceling the Kentucky Derby.”

This announcement was made via conference call this morning conducted by Churchill Downs with limited media in attendance. This is what we learned:

• Arrangements with NBC being made for new Triple Crown series in the fall.
• Derby week’s races have yet been determined, but plans are to replicate the Tuesday through Saturday schedule that would normally occur in the spring.
• Efforts are underway to move the other two legs of the Triple Crown, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, to replicate the regular timeline of Triple Crown.
• Existing stakes races over the summer for 3-year-olds will be added to the Derby points schedule. Those are to be announced in coming months. Points earned on the current leaderboard will still apply.
• Churchill Downs’s spring meet status is still pending.