Derby Week Opener Returns To Daytime And Will Feature Sunday Racing

Churchill Downs | Horsephotos

Tickets for Kentucky Derby Week and the entire Spring Meet at Churchill Downs Racetrack are set to go on sale Thursday at noon with an added day of racing to celebrate this year's Derby Week.

For the first time since 2010, Churchill Downs will return its meet opener and kickoff to Derby Week to the afternoon rather than running at night under the lights as was the case from 2011-25, the track announced Wednesday. Post time for Opening Day powered by LG&E and KU will be Saturday, April 25, at 12:45 p.m.

Additionally, Churchill Downs is bringing back Sunday to the Derby Week schedule for the first time in 15 years. Post time for the Sunday, April 26 program will be 12:45 p.m.

The 152nd Spring Meet at the historic Louisville racetrack will span nine weeks from April 25-June 28 over 44 racing dates. Kentucky Derby Week grows from six to seven days from April 25-May 2 with no racing on Monday, April 27.

“With the Spring Meet and Kentucky Derby Week kicking off in the afternoon and the return of Sunday racing on Derby Week for the first time in 16 years, we believe our strong racing product will be well received by the local community, horseplayers around the country and our horsemen,”said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack.

Tickets for the 152nd GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby on May 1-2 are available by visiting here or here.

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