LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to Reuters, the most recent economic impact study commissioned shows that in a non-COVID year, the Kentucky Derby has a $400 million dollar economic impact on the region. Statewide, the equine industry has a $4 billion impact, generating more than 55,000 jobs.
Louisville Metro Councilman Kevin Triplett (D) was elected to represent District 15 in November 2018 and took office in January, 2019. He is a native of Louisville and has lived most of his life in District 15 in the Churchill Downs area and Cloverleaf Neighborhood.
During this In Focus Kentucky segment, Louisville Metro Councilman Triplett discusses economic impact of Kentucky Derby Week 2022.
"Maybe all my life you can see that it was big, but growing up as a youngster you don't think about the economic impact. You just see it as a big event. People having fun and that was big for the city.The impact is enormous," Triplett said. "It's often kind of a love-hate relationship for Churchill Downs and in the immediate area. It's an inconvenience. A lot of people have to work Saturday. They can't if they live very, very close by. They have trouble getting out of the neighborhood, getting to work on time, and then they have trouble getting back in because we do as a precaution, we put in public safety measures for the good of everyone."
You can watch the full In Focus segment in the player above.