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Churchill Downs Limit Kentucky Derby Attendance to 40% of Capacity

Brian Robin

In further response to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, Churchill Downs Racetrack officials released a 62-page health and safety operations plan on Wednesday that will limit Kentucky Derby attendance to fewer than 23,000 guests for the Sept. 5 race.

You won’t see scenes like these from the 2019 Kentucky Derby infield at this year’s Derby. The infield is closed for the Sept. 5 race and seating is limited to 40% of capacity. (Image: Christopher Fryer/Louisville Business First)

That total is less than 14% of the record 170,513 fans who piled into Churchill Downs to see American Pharoah take the first step toward his 2015 Triple Crown. Track officials took the steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced rescheduling the Run for the Roses from May 5.

Aside from drastically reduced attendance at what is one of America’s most attended sporting events, race officials will take the drastic step of closing the Churchill Downs infield. Track officials said in June that General Admission tickets would be limited to the infield. The Churchill Downs infield is known for its free-for-all, party atmosphere. But after consulting with state health officials, Churchill Downs closed the infield and will refund all GA tickets.

Instead, reserved seating limits are 40% of normal occupancy. No standing room only or “walk-around” tickets will be sold. Churchill Downs set up a new location to seat outdoor ticket holders, maximizing social distancing.

Walking a Fine Line Between Safety and Atmosphere

“The opportunity to safely welcome back a limited number of guests to Churchill Downs on the first week of September is a privilege that our team doesn’t take for granted,” Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said in a release. “Our extensive plan meets or exceeds all recommended state and local guidelines. We’ve received an exceptional level of support from regulators, medical experts, and public health authorities, and we’ll continue to carefully work with them to ensure we’re doing everything we can to keep our customers, employees, and communities safe.”

The plan came together over the last four months, employing public health officials, including the Louisville Metro Health Department and elements from Kentucky’s Healthy at Work guidance. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear approved the original plan in late June. He balanced factors ranging from emphasizing public safety to providing a semblance of atmosphere for America’s oldest, continuously held sporting event.

“We will have fewer guests at this year’s Derby, as reducing the size of the crowd is an important step to ensuring a safe environment,” Flanery said. “Medical best practices and protocols – many of which we have applied in consultation with experts both inside and outside the sports industry – will be implemented, and we’ll make adjustments all the way up to Derby Day.”

Masks Required, Food Choices, Extracurriculars Limited

Aside from the aforementioned restrictions, other highlights of the plan include:

“For those guests who plan to join us for this year’s Derby, we promise you that we will make it a wonderful experience and, most importantly, we will make it as safe and comfortable as we possibly can,” Flanery said.