The Derby will now be held without fans- better decision in my mind!

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/right-and-responsible-decision-kentucky-derby-2020-to-be-held-without-fans/

 Clearly the right decision: i  think they thought that by September the virus would be under control: instead, it is worse now than it was back when they cancelled the Derby.

Exactly!

Just reading this.....

They should have run it in May.

 They should have but i think they thought things would be better in September (wishful thinking we all hoped for)-- they didn't want to lose all those paying customers- but they lost them anyway

Yep, in hindsight. But CDI wasn’t on top of things to begin with and wouldn’t have had protocols in place by May anyway?

Expected arrivals for Derby contenders

• Monday or Tuesday via van from Skylight Training Center to Churchill Downs: Art Collector(trainer Tommy Drury)
• Tuesday via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Rushie (Michael McCarthy)
• Aug. 30 via flight from New York to Louisville: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado) and Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph)
• Aug. 30 via van from Florida to Louisville: Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone)
• Aug. 31 via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Authentic (Bob Baffert), Honor A. P. (John Shirreffs), Storm the Court(Peter Eurton); and Thousand Words (Baffert)
• Aug. 31 via flight from New York: Dr Post (Todd Pletcher) and Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg)

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/kentucky-derby-notes-king-guillermos-fast-work-tiz-the-laws-one-day-delay-arrival-plans/

yes....No fans

The new Derby gate will be used Sept 1 so horses can school in it and will run a race at  11/4 miles so gate crew and starter can get themselves set before the Derby.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/243106/churchill-to-debut-20-horse-derby-gate-sept-1