Churchill Downs: To Resume Racing Friday After Tornado Strike

Churchill Downs had to cancel live racing, simulcasting and training for today, Thursday June 23, after a tornado damaged barns and other buildings in the stable area Wednesday night.

Today at noon, Churchill Downs track President Kevin Flannery said that the track will resume racing Friday night. Friday’s first race post is at 6 p.m., just the third night card of the current meet.

Flannery also added that the areas of the clubhouse, grandstand, and the world famous Twin Spires structure that towers over the track, were not damaged by the storm.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down in the area Wednesday evening, one at Churchill Downs and another 2.71 miles west of Jeffersontown. The size and strength of the tornado are yet to be determined.

There is reported roof damage to nine barns, to the track backstretch chapel, downed trees, a broken water main and power outages at the track. Some of the nine barns reportedly damaged were those of Jinks Fires, Carl Nafzger, Steve Margolis and Dale Romans. Fortunately no injuries to humans or horses have been reported at the track.

Dale Romans updated his followers on his Facebook page. He posted messages about the loss of the roof on his barn, and that all his personnel and horses were fine. You can also see his posted photos of the damage.

An approximate number of 150 horses have been evacuated to the nearby Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. Churchill Downs is also coordinating with the American Red Cross to provide about 100 track workers with temporary shelter as their quarters were compromised.

At the present time, Churchill Downs does not plan to make up the lost racing date, but has said it will keep the currently scheduled dates for the rest of the Spring meeting, which is due to end July 4. The track may seek to add races to the remaining race cards.