LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horse racing returns to Churchill Downs this weekend and the first round of thoroughbreds began arriving Monday morning.

Unfortunately for race fans, they will not have access to Churchill Downs, at least, not until Kentucky lifts restrictions on public gatherings. Still, for trainers and their staff, this is very positive news. 

“Well, I haven’t done anything for two months so I’ve been waiting for them to come back,” Candice Fires told Spectrum News Monday. “

I actually pony horses so I take the jockeys to the gate in the afternoon so I will finally be able to do something,” she adds. Fires is the daughter of longtime trainer William “Jinks” Fires. She reports her horses are arriving later in the week from Arkansas as the first round of horses is traveling from Louisiana. 

"Everyone that’s been stuck in New Orleans, not being able to run, gets to come in first,” Fires explains. 

There is a long list of new guidelines for backside staff and trainers which include social distancing. 

“The protocol for the new world, the “COVID-19 world,” is that when the truck arrives the driver and any groomers riding with the horses all need to be assessed, temperatures taken of the people,” Brucie Lee Garrett explains. 

Garrett is a veterinary aid arriving Monday from Louisiana. 

“Everyone seems to be in good health today. None of the equines have temperatures and none of the people.” 

All the activity inside Churchill was enough to attract a few spectators on the other side of the fence including Paul Rutherford. 

"You don’t have to be a daily bettor but if you’re a fan, you want to see them back here," Rutherford told Spectrum News. 

“Saturday they are going to come out from the gap, onto the track and load them into the gate and they will run them again. I’m getting chills just thinking about it," Rutherford adds.