Churchill Downs has officially come out with a plan for the upcoming Kentucky Derby and other events on Sept. 1-5.
Each race, including the derby, will be allowed a maximum of 23,000 fans in the stands. That does not include general admission or infield tickets. Reserved seating will be docked to a maximum of 40% capacity, and standing-room-only tickets have been eliminated. The overall capacity of 23,000 would be 13.5% of the record 170,513 fans in 2015.
“Reducing the size of the crowd is an important step to ensuring a safe environment,” Churchill Downs Racetrack president Kevin Flanery said in a news release.
The Kentucky Derby was postponed from the first Saturday in May to Sept. 5 due to Coronavirus, and once again the pandemic will cause a decrease in spectators at the event.
You can read the full statement here.