Churchill Downs suspends racing, moves it to Ellis Park

Churchill Downs officials announced that racing operations were suspended at Churchill Downs Racetrack beginning this week through the remainder of the spring meet, scheduled to run to July 3.

Live racing at Churchill Downs was be conducted as scheduled this weekend. The remainder of the race meet will be relocated to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson, beginning on Saturday, June 10.

Churchill Downs has seen an unusual number of horse injuries over the previous month, resulting in 12 equine fatalities. Following an internal review by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and by Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, no single factor has been identified as a potential cause, and no pattern has been detected to link the fatalities.

Diagnostics testing of the racetrack by experts have not raised concerns. Experts have concluded that the surface is consistent with prior measurements from Churchill Downs in past years.

In an abundance of caution, Churchill Downs has elected to relocate the meet while they conduct a top-to-bottom review of all safety and surface protocols.

Ellis Park traditionally hosts a summer race meet in Kentucky that is scheduled from July 7 to August 27. 




Horses run the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. (Julio Cortez/AP)