Racing activities will recommence at Churchill Downs in September, following a thorough review of surfaces and safety protocols. This decision comes after the unfortunate deaths of 12 horses, including seven leading up to the Kentucky Derby in May. The track had temporarily suspended racing operations on June 7 and relocated its spring meet to Ellis Park in western Kentucky under the recommendation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. However, training continued at Churchill Downs during the investigation.
During a Thursday earnings call with Churchill Downs Inc. investors, CEO Bill Carstanjen described the deaths as “a series of unfortunate circumstances” and assured that the track had not found any significant issues or differences compared to previous years. Carstanjen acknowledged that this finding may be unsatisfying to some, but emphasized that it is part of the realities of business and sports. Two of the deaths occurred in undercard races on Derby day, while the remaining five occurred later.
Carstanjen further explained, “The main takeaway is that the track is very safe. During the time we conducted an investigation and ran the remainder of the spring meet at Ellis, we thoroughly examined every aspect of our operations. There was no obvious cause for the injuries and breakdowns, and as we reassessed all our processes to ensure comprehensive safety, we did not discover any major issues.” The fall meet at Churchill Downs will begin on September 14 and conclude on October 1.
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