For the first time in 75 years, the Kentucky Derby will not be held on the first Saturday in May.
Churchill Downs is expected to announce that, because of the uncertainty over the Coronavirus, the 146th running will take place on Sept. 5, the Louisville-Courier Journal and local news station WDRB reported Monday night. An Action Network source corroborated the date. It would be the first time since 1945 that the Run for the Roses was held in a month other than may. That year, the Kentucky Derby was shifted to June due to World War II.
It will be a competitive date, given that it would be the first full college football Saturday, assuming life returns to normal, though there aren't many big games that day outside of Alabama vs. USC.
If the horse racing calendar follows the traditional Triple Crown rhythm, that would mean the Preakness Stakes would take place on Sept. 19 with the Belmont Stakes taking place on Oct. 10. There is a possibility that the Belmont could be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 which would give NBC the opportunity to use the third and final leg of the Triple Crown as a lead-in to Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field that night.
