Storms Hit Kentucky Derby Track; Horses, Humans OK

Storms Hit Kentucky Derby Track; Horses,
Humans OK Possible tornado damages barns,
chapel at Churchill Downs; no
injuries to horses, humans
The famed Churchill Downs horse race
track, longtime home to the Kentucky
Derby, was hit by a possible tornado
Wednesday, knocking down parts of
barns and chasing out horses that ran
loose before being corralled.
Hours after the storm hit, officials had no reports of injuries to
humans or horses at the track south of downtown. Elsewhere in the
city, high water from torrential rains briefly trapped a couple of
people in their cars, a mayor's spokesman said, and a hospital
reported that it treated two patients hit by falling trees.
The National Weather Service said radar tracked a confirmed
tornado near the track and the University of Louisville campus
about 8:10 p.m. Though no races are run on Wednesdays, a
simulcast of races elsewhere was being shown at the track, and a
Texas Hold 'em poker tournament was being held, officials said.
At least nine of the track's 48 backside barns were damaged, as
was the chapel. The barn damage, displacing about 200 horses,
was in an area of the track where workers live in apartments above
barns. One barn was flooded by a water main break.
"It's a hell of a mess back here," track spokesman John Asher said
of the barn area where the damage was concentrated.
Louisville fire Capt. Salvador Melendez said safe areas were found
for the horses overnight at the track. The nearby state fairgrounds
along with Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington offered stall space if
needed, Asher said.
The iconic twin spires above the clubhouse overlooking the finish
line were apparently not damaged, said track President Kevin
Flanery.
"Clearly we've got several barns with significant damage and we're
just trying to make sure people and the animals are safe first,"
Flanery said.
Security guards told reporters that some horses had gotten loose
for a time but were later caught. At least 1,300 horses were
stabled at Churchill, said vice president of racing Donnie
Richardson.
Several people taking part in the poker tournament said they saw
the rotation in the clouds and then saw swirling winds touch down
along the backstretch and skip diagonally through the barn area,
Asher said.
"Clearly in their eyes it was a tornado." Asher said. A National
Weather Service team will determine whether a tornado or straight
line winds did the damage.
Trainer William "Jinks" Fires had to find new living quarters for 24
horses in a barn that had part of its roof torn off. Water was knee-
high in the barn after pipes broke.
"I was home in my pajamas," he said. "But it didn't take me long
to get here."
Other trainers offered empty stall space for the horses he trains.
"Anyone who had an empty stall, we put 'em in," Fires said.
The Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horseracing's Triple Crown, has
been run for 136 years at the track. It has a capacity to handle a
crowd of some 160,000-plus for the annual spring tradition known
as much for its mint juleps and fancy hats as the racing.
The track, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., underwent extensive
renovations in 2002 and 2003 totaling more than $200 million.
Thursday's racing card was canceled because of the damage. The
track has nine live racing days left in its spring meet that runs until
July 4.
In August 2009, a flash flood heavily damaged the Kentucky Derby
Museum, situated just off Gate 1 at Churchill Downs. The museum
was closed for nine months while it underwent a $5.5 million
renovation.
No damage has been reported at the university, which is sparsely
populated at this time of year, said John Drees, a university
spokesman. Scattered reports of damage to buildings in the
Louisville metro area were reported from the storms that
continued to move through into the night. The worst damage
appeared to be in the Churchill Downs area, though, said Chris
Poynter, a spokesman for Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
Eyewitnesses said they saw about a dozen power poles downed
near the track and university. Some 2,600 customers were without
power around the Louisville area at about midnight.
Storm sirens wailed in Kentucky's largest city as multiple tornado
warnings were issued as the storm went through.
"It looks like we dodged what could have been a really bad ...
evening," Poynter said.
———
Associated Press writers Janet Cappiello, Beth Campbell and Joe
Edwards contributed to this report. Edwards reported from
Nashville, Tenn. AP freelancer Josh Abner also contributed to this
report.
Storms Hit Kentucky Derby Track; Horses,
Humans OK