LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs is preparing for races to return at its famed Louisville racetrack.
On Monday, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) officially confirmed live racing will resume at the Churchill Downs racetrack on Sept. 14, 2023.
The Fall meet runs from October 29 through November 26. Tickets are already on sale; the first race is at 5 p.m. on Sept. 14.
News about the return of live racing at the track first came in mid-July during a meeting presenting the second quarter earnings to investors.
The move comes after the spring meet moved to Ellis Park in western Kentucky. The relocation last month followed 12 horse deaths that happened at Churchill Downs since mid-April.
What about horse safety?
Churchill Downs also announced new safety initiatives and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority launched an investigation. That investigation is still underway as of this writing.
While several of the necropsies have been released, no discernible pattern has been identified.
Here are some of the key safety measures CDI says it implemented to ensure the well-being of the horses and their riders:
- Infrastructure upgrades: Multiple analyses of the track itself found no issues with the racing surfaces, however, Churchill Downs is investing in more new surface maintenance equipment and will double the frequency of surface testing.
- Increased veterinary oversight: More resources will be added to the racetrack's veterinary team to ensure additional monitoring and specialized care for horses.
- Collaboration with industry experts: Churchill Downs plans to continue its work with HISA to predict at-risk horses using "up-to-date data and advanced analytic techniques."
- Establish safety management committee: The new committee will consist of horsemen designees, racetrack employees and veterinarians to candidly discuss concerns and observations providing real-time feedback on areas of improvement.
"Our commitment to safety remains paramount as we enter this September meet," CDI's CEO Bill Carstanjen said. "Our participants, fans and the public can be assured that we will continue to investigate, evaluate and improve upon every policy and protocol."
To see the full September Meet schedule, click here. If you're interested in getting tickets early, you can do so here.
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