Kentucky Derby to run with no spectators this year

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ATTENTION EDITORS: RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: FILE OF KENTUCKY DERBY VENUE CHURCHILL DOWNS

SHOWS: LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, UNITED STATES (FILE)(CHURCHILL DOWNS-MUST COURTESY CHURCHILL DOWNS)

1. HORSE TRAINING ON TRACK

2. SHOT OF GRANDSTAND

3. SHOT OF PADDOCK AREA

4. SHOT OF BETTING WINDOWS

5. SHOT OF STARTING GATE

STORY: Organizers of the Kentucky Derby said on Friday (August 21) that no fans would be allowed to attend the race on Sept. 5 as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in Louisville.

The race, which is usually held on the first Saturday in May, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and organizers had planned to welcome a reduced crowd of less than 23,000 spectators to Churchill Downs.

"With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning," Churchill Downs Inc. said in a statement.

"We have made the difficult decision to hold this year's Kentucky Derby on September 5 without fans," the company said.

"We deeply regret the disappointment this will bring to our loyal fans," it added.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he backed the decision.

"The virus is still aggressively spreading in Kentucky, and the White House has announced that Jefferson County and the City of Louisville are in a 'red zone' based on increases in cases," he said.

"This week alone the county had more than 2,300 new cases," he said.

At least 174,266 people have died from the disease across the United States, according to a Reuters tally.

Usually the first leg of U.S. thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown, this year's Kentucky Derby was preceded by the Belmont Stakes in June and will be followed by the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes.

(Production: Peter Bullock)