The world-famous Kentucky Derby is set to be postponed to a later date in 2020 as Churchill Downs officials are hopeful of completing the 2020 edition.
The Kentucky Derby has successfully run amid some of America’s toughest periods including the Great Depression and World War II, proving its resilience since its 1875 inception.
Should the Derby be cancelled in 2020, it would be the first time the race has not been run.
Churchill Downs officials will hold a press conference at 9am on Tuesday local time with local media anticipating the race will be delayed by four months from May 2 to September 5.
Traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, it has been run in that calendar slot each year with the exception coming in 1945 due to the second world war in which it was run on June 9.
The calendar shift is likely to cause a reshuffle as the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the illustrious Triple Crown, comprising also the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
Situated in Louisville, Kentucky, officials at Keeneland Racecourse on Monday cancelled their upcoming spring meeting from April 2 to 24, which includes multiple Grade 1 races and the traditional Kentucky Derby lead-up race – the US$1 million Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes (1800m) for locally prepared three-year-olds.
