COVID-19 Crises Causes Move From Traditional Date The First Saturday Of May
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com
The 146th Running Of The Roses has been moved from its traditional date of the first Saturday of May to Labor Day Weekend.
The 2000 Kentucky Derby has been moved, rather than being cancelled, because of the COVID-19 crisis. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5. The original date was Saturday, May 2.
Below is a statement from Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO, Bill Carstanjen:
“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. As the situation evolved, we steadily made all necessary operational adjustments to provide the safest experience and environment. The most recent developments have led us to make some very difficult, but we believe, necessary decisions and our hearts are with those who have been or continue to be affected by this pandemic.
“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. 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.”
Revised Schedule For Derby Week 2020
Racing on Tuesday through Thursday of Derby Week 2020 will be on September 1-3. The Tuesday Dawn at the Downs event has been rescheduled to Sept. 1 and the Wednesday 2Dawn at the Downs event is now Sept. 2.
Derby Week tickets purchased for the originally scheduled dates are automatically valid for the new race dates. You may arrive on the new dates in September with your printed ticket or mobile ticket to be scanned for entry at the gates. If ou can’t make it to the new dates, the Derby has set up this page, which has refund request form.
Kentucky Derby Infield 2020
As far as PubClub.com can tell, the wild Kentucky Derby infield scene will continue as usual. In a posting on the Churchill Downs website Q&A page it states “we believe that the Kentucky Derby is as much about the fans as it is about the race.” And a big part of that fan experience is the infield party.
The Derby has only been postponed once, at the end of World War II in 1945. It was run on June 9 and as the 71st Derby.
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