LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horse racing returns to Churchill Downs Thursday, Sept. 14. The track suspended racing on June 7 and moved the spring meet to Ellis Park, after the deaths of 12 horses.

What You Need To Know

  • Racing returns to Churchill Downs Thursday, Sept. 14

  • The September meet runs through Oct. 1

  • Racing had been halted at the track since June after the deaths of 12 horses

  • An official report found now causal evidence of the deaths at Churchill Downs

Twilight Thursday kicks off the 11th annual September meet at Churchill beginning at 5 p.m. ET. The meet runs 14 days through Sunday, Oct. 1. Opening day at the track features eight races.

The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) found no causal relationship between the track surface and fatalities, and no pattern of medical histories or injury profiles that pointed to a single cause for the deaths. It released its findings Tuesday, Sept. 12.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, Churchill Downs will host five stakes races, including two that could produce starters in this year’s Breeders’ Cup and next spring’s Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.

Racing during the September meet will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There will be three Twilight Thursdays and one Downs After Dark on Sept. 23.

Twilight Thursdays will feature live music, drink specials and food trucks. Trucks scheduled to appear are Annie Up Pizza (Sept. 21 and Sept. 28), Bamba Egg Rolls (Sept. 28), Black Rock Grille (Sept. 14), Celtic Pig (Sept. 14 and 21), Cookie Dough Bliss (Sept. 14), Cooper Kitchen (Sept. 21), FlavaVille (Sept. 28), HurriKanes (Sept. 28), Mr. C’s Cheesecakes (Sept. 21), Red Top Hot Dogs (Sept. 21), Seafood Lady (Sept. 14), Smok’n Cantina (Sept. 28) and Sweet n Savory (Sept. 14).

The only Downs After Dark will be Saturday, Sept. 23. “Bourbon & Boots” is described as where Music City meets Derby City, and will feature music, bourbon, fashion and horse racing.

Tickets for the meet can be bought online.

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