LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There will be more than horses at Churchill Downs this year — You'll find Cardinals, too. "Louisville Live," the University of Louisville's annual preseason basketball event featuring the school's men's and women's teams, will be held at Churchill Downs Saturday, Sept. 18 during an evening of thoroughbred horse racing.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for "Downs After Dark: Horses and Hoops," which is a partnership between UofL and Churchill Downs presented by Budweiser. Louisville Live launches at 7:15 p.m., but the action starts before then with the first race taking off at 6 p.m. Officials said a portable court will be placed outdoor on the Plaza inside Gate 1 of the racetrack with multiple team activities planned.

General admission and first-floor seating tickets start at $12 and can be purchased online. UofL students can get in for free, and additional information on claiming those tickets will be provided later, officials said.

UofL's 1986 NCAA Championship men's basketball team will sign autographs at the event before the current Cardinals take the court. Additionally, the team will be honored on Sept. 17 at the Cardinals' football game against UCF in Cardinal stadium.

UofL’s 1985-86 team posted a 32-7 record, winning its last 17 games to earn the NCAA title. The '86 champions were led by then-future Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum and featured four starters who currently rank among the top 11 scorers all-time at UofL: Pervis Ellison (2,143 career points), Milt Wagner (1,836), Herbert Crook (1,723) and Billy Thompson (1,685). Starting guard Jeff Hall was also a career 1,000-point scorer (1,294). In the 1986 title game, Louisville defeated Duke 72-69.

The 2020-21 season marked the 35th anniversary of UofL's 1986 NCAA Championship.