Churchill Downs racing resumes in September with safety changes / Photo: JAMIE SQUIRE - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
-
'A legend': Celine Dion poised for emotional comeback in Paris
-
From crime to the Arctic: ultramarathoner film debuts in Toronto
-
Europe eyes battle over 'pervert' AI glasses
-
Back to the drawing board for disappointed Tiafoe
-
Philippine Muslim enclave trades bullets for election ballots
-
Lady Gaga welcomes first child with fiance: US media
-
Children in flood-hit Nepal grapple with loss, cling to hope
-
Shelton tops Tiafoe to book US Open title clash with Zverev
-
Bhutan business bets on hazelnuts for farming future
-
Shelton powers past Tiafoe to book US Open title clash with Zverev
-
First bodies of Philippines ferry fire victims land as toll hits 35
-
Venice Film Festival: A look back on the highlights
-
Gaza film, Malkovich drama vie for Venice top prize
-
'Widow's Bay' and 'The Pitt' are favorites for Emmys night
-
DR Congo school fire stampede death toll rises to 26: UNICEF
-
'Everything different' as Zverev returns to US Open final
-
Coastal erosion forces cancellation of California music festival
-
Top seed Zverev holds off Khachanov to reach US Open final
-
Anthropic says UAE-linked AI op targeted UN experts over Sudan
-
James McAvoy brings new film 'Faith' to Toronto fest
-
Rennes beat Marseille to seize top spot in Ligue 1
-
Faultless Duplantis, hungry Ingebrigtsen shine at inaugural Ultimate
-
Duplantis delivers masterclass for Ultimate pole vault win
-
Roblox to launch wallet to pay creators faster and will allow off-platform gaming
-
Weapons, spyware and AI scams: Anthropic exposes Claude misuse
-
Springboks wary of new-look All Blacks in Baltimore test
-
Gary Oldman hopes Jack Lowden is the new James Bond
-
Townsend, Siniakova win US Open doubles for career Grand Slam together
-
Six-stop race is best on tyre-shredding Madrid track says Russell
-
Verstappen unimpressed with new Madrid street track
-
Prosecutors seek up to 10 years prison over violent burglary of Donnarumma
-
Razaullah heroics deny England quickfire win in 3rd Test against Pakistan
-
Solheim Cup on a knife-edge after Korda record
-
Masks banned at planned UK protests: police
-
Corruption probe targets Brazil presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro
-
Antonelli on top ahead of Ferraris in Madrid practice
-
New No.1 Rybakina out to thwart Sabalenka US Open three-peat bid
-
Dance Fitness Tempe Announces Expansion of Accessible Digital Movement Programs
-
US marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
-
Nashville airport to be renamed after Dolly Parton
-
'That's why we fight': Trump links 9/11 to Iran conflict
-
Argentina's Dirty War rears its head in Venice film
-
Europe saw record summer air traffic despite Mideast war: Eurocontrol
-
'Whatever we do is political' says Iranian director Asgari at Venice
-
De Zerbi coy over unsettled Richarlison's Spurs future
-
UK lawmakers throw out bill to legalise assisted dying
-
Brazil president candidate Flavio Bolsonaro targeted in corruption probe
-
Relatives of 9/11 victims hit out at Saudi Arabia -- and US leaders
-
England dismiss Pakistan's Masood to close on victory in 3rd Test
-
Egyptian teenager Abdelkarim to extend Barca deal to 2030
Churchill Downs racing resumes in September with safety changes
Horse racing will resume in September at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, the racetrack said Monday, after safety changes following the deaths of 12 horses within a month and a major investigation.
Churchill Downs Incorporated said that live racing will resume at the Louisville track with the scheduled September 14 meet.
"We are excited to resume live racing again at Churchill Downs,"said chief executive officer Bill Carstanjen.
"Our commitment to safety remains paramount as we enter this September meet and our participants, fans and the public can be assured that we will continue to investigate, evaluate and improve upon every policy and protocol."
Racing operations were shut down at Churchill Downs from June 7 through July 3 after a dozen horses perished for various reasons around the time of May's Kentucky Derby, the traditional first jewel in US flat racing's Triple Crown.
Moving the final month of the schedule to Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, allowed time for a comprehensive investigation into safety issues at Churchill Downs.
The internal review of safety protocols prompted the track to implement several enhancements to better ensure equine safety, and sparked upgrades to improve the racing surface.
"Analysis by multiple leading industry experts found no issues with the racing surfaces," the track's statement said.
"However, to further maximize surface oversight and consistency, the racetrack has invested in additional new surface maintenance equipment and committed to doubling the frequency of surface testing."
Additional equipment will also be added for the veterinary team to provide extra monitoring and oversight as well as specialized care for horses, and to assist in pre-race inspections and entry screening.
Churchill Downs will continue to work with industry experts, using the latest data and advanced analytic techniques, to better predict at-risk horses.
Also, a new safety committee will be set up to "candidly discuss concerns and observations to constantly provide real time feedback."
The September meet runs through October 1 while a Fall meet runs from October 29 through November 26.
S.Pimentel--PC