Derby Postponed

RUFFIAN · #1 03-17-2020, 09:11 AM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) --

The 146th running of The Kentucky Derby will be postponed until the first Saturday in September, multiple sources told WDRB News, the latest sporting event to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first time the Derby will not be held on the first Saturday in May since 1945, when it was postponed until June.

JolyB · #2 03-17-2020, 09:56 AM

No great surprise in the change of date. Churchill gets too much revenue from ticket sales and overpriced mint juleps to ever consider running without live attendance.

This raises a number of other questions, which I'm sure will be addressed in the weeks ahead. Most significant are how this might affect the other two legs of the triple crown and whether the Derby qualifying points mechanism will be amended to reflect the change of circumstances. I guess that CDI has made their decision and will let everyone else figure out how to dovetail into their plans. For example, if you have a top 3 year old, how could you run in the Travers so close to the new date for the Derby?

Given all of the other challenges we will be facing in the days ahead, this should be fairly low on the priority list of things to be concerned about.

cal828 · #3 03-17-2020, 01:14 PM

"No great surprise in the change of date. Churchill gets too much revenue from ticket sales and overpriced mint juleps to ever consider running without live attendance."

Agree with that. It's got to be a huge cash cow for Churchill which is not the premier racing venue in the nation, but the derby itself is the premier race. There are those that think it could be done like Oaklawn did this past weekend and it's true that the handle at Churchill would be huge, but that is just part of the picture with the cost of admission and reserve seating like no other venue. Even the cost of attending a Breeder's Cup seems reasonable by comparison. I think it's a little bit like going to Vegas. Last time I went the cost of my gambling was miniscule compared to what I spent on food and the hotel, not to mention the flight.