Report: Kentucky Derby to be postponed until September
The Kentucky Derby is being postponed from May to September because of growing concern about the coronavirus pandemic, according to a published report.
Citing unidentified sources close to the race, the Courier-Journal of Louisville said Churchill Downs will postpone the Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5, marking the first time in 75 years that the race won't be run on the first Saturday in May.
A formal announcement will be made Tuesday.
The last time the Derby wasn’t held on the first Saturday in May was in 1945, when the federal government issued a ban on horse racing because of World War II. The ban was lifted on May 8, and the Derby was held on June 9. The only other year the Derby wasn’t held in May was in 1901, when it was raced on April 29.
The Derby is the latest major sporting event to be postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, joining the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments and the Masters golf tournament. Professional basketball, baseball and hockey leagues also have suspended their seasons.
https://www.state-journal.com/ap_sports/report-kentucky-derby-to-be-postponed-until-september/article_d748d17d-2474-514e-9528-0a1eda5b6fa3.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Updated – March 30th, 2020
Link: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/updates
Excerpt:
The 146th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be rescheduled from May 2, 2020 to September 5, 2020 and the 146th Longines Kentucky Oaks will be rescheduled from May 1, 2020 to September 4, 2020.
Racing on Tuesday through Thursday of Derby Week (April 28-30, 2020) has been rescheduled to Tuesday through Thursday, September 1-3, 2020 respectively. The Tuesday April 28, 2020 Dawn at the Downs event has been rescheduled to September 1, 2020 and the Wednesday 29, 2020 Dawn at the Downs event is rescheduled to September 2, 2020. Reschedule options for Saturday April 25, 2020 are still being evaluated. Please check back here for updates.
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 you have purchased a ticket and are not able to attend the newly scheduled race dates, click here for more information
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In addition, this is the website for information on rescheduling of the Kentucky Derby Festival:
Link: https://kdf.org/
03/17/20 – DERBY FESTIVAL POSTPONES EVENTS UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR
By aboyd | Published March 17, 2020
Snips:
Said Gibson, “The schedule may look a little different with events moving into a new timeframe, but our goal is to have Thunder Over Louisville, the miniMarathon, the Pegasus Parade, Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon, and many other events in between.”
The new date for Thunder Over Louisville is set for Saturday, August 15. The Festival will release other new dates as soon as they are finalized. Information regarding ticketed events, participant registration and refunds will also be forthcoming.
I believe this is only the third time in its history the Derby will not be held on schedule. Louisville is always a buzz of activity and events for at least a month prior, with families holding Derby parties and many events down on the Ohio River.
Sad time for Kentucky in many ways.
KY..........
