The most celebrated horse race in the nation, the Kentucky Derby, will be held without a crowd for the first time in its nearly 150-year history.
The 2020 Kentucky Derby will be held without spectators.
The Kentucky Derby, which typically draws about 150,000 fans and attracted a record $165.5 million in wagers last year, will be held without spectators on September 5, after the race was delayed from May due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Organizers Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) stated that they had initially planned to permit a limited number of people to attend the 146th Kentucky Derby, but a rise in COVID-19 cases in Louisville and the broader Kentucky region led them to make the decision to prohibit fans, as they prioritized health concerns.
“Churchill Downs and all of our team members strongly believe that as Louisville citizens, we have a responsibility to do our part to protect the well-being, safety, and security of our community during these challenging times, and we believe that holding the Derby without spectators is the best way to do that,” CDI said in a statement.
We sincerely apologize for the frustration this has brought to our loyal supporters.”
The CDI was initially intended to accommodate 23,000 attendees, with a maximum occupancy of 40% for designated seating, as outlined in a proposition released earlier this month.
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