(Image source: Churchill Downs)
 

BY JOSH FRYDMAN

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The Run for the Roses became a run for cover on Wednesday night.

A tornado raced through Churchill Downs, the famous home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, damaging nine barns and a number of stable areas, but no workers or horses were injured.

All scheduled races for Thursday at the track were cancelled.

Track Spokesman John Asher called it a “rugged night at Churchill Downs.”

“We’ve had several barns throughout that have been damaged. We’ve got 48 barns on the backside that house about 1400 horses during our racing meet, our spring meet is ongoing for another couple of weeks. We’ve had at least nine of those barns that have suffered significant enough damage that they will have to be completely evacuated.”

Workers traced the track with magnets to search for any metal debris. Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery said,

"We are incredibly fortunate to have survived last night's tornado without injury to our backstretch human or equine population….It’s a miracle no one was hurt.”

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that, "the track’s landmark twin spires were unharmed. But the roof was torn off at least one barn, and the backside dormitory and chapel suffered damage."

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports 20 stable-area workers have been displaced, and might have to be housed in temporary shelters. As many as 200 horses on the grounds may have to be evacuated to nearby stables.

Dale Romans, who trains Preakness winner Shackleford, said the way the barn is built might have saved some horses’ lives.

"Even though the roof of the barns collapsed, the rubble landed in the hay lofts and didn't really get into the stalls or on top of horses. Some of them were trapped, but they were safe in their stalls.”

Despite the storm damage, Churchill Downs announced it will resume racing Friday night, with its planned “Downs After Dark” races.
 

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