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The past week has seen numerous sporting events postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Future events are still up for debate, and one potential postponement could be the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs announced that news about the timing of the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby will come later this week. The Derby is currently scheduled for May 2nd.
Famed trainer Bob Baffert released a statement on Saturday at Santa Anita following a race, and he thinks the race could be delayed into the summer or early fall.
“Nobody’s really sure when anything is going to happen,” the trainer said Saturday at Santa Anita Park, according to a release from the park. “Churchill is saying they’re not going to run the Derby without the people there, so I’m hearing maybe June or in September.”
The current Triple Crown schedule had the Derby on May 2nd, the Preakness Stakes on May 17th, and the Belmont Stakes on June 7th.