Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-11-18)
LOUISVILLE
(Kentucky Public Radio) -
Thoroughbreds will race under the lights six nights next year at Churchill Downs. The historic track is installing permanent lights for next year's spring meet.
It will host night racing on four Fridays in June and July, Halloween, and a Friday in November. Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery says the installation of permanent lights will cost at least three million dollars.
"This is about doing something for the future of racing, and the future of racing at Churchill Downs," Flanery said. "So we're making a tremendous investment in the lights, just like we made a tremendous investment in the track and in this facility. We believe, based on the spring, that people are going turn out like they did in 2009, and they'll have a spectacular time."
Earlier this year, Churchill Downs held three night racing events under temporary lights. The average attendance was over 29,000. The track set a record non-Derby attendance of more than 33,000 at one event.
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