Kentucky Derby Festival security to be reviewed
LOUISVILLE -- It's too soon to say whether the explosions at the Boston Marathon will result in security changes for the Kentucky Derby and Derby Festival — but Thunder over Louisville will go on as planned, officials said Monday.
"We will huddle with our many law enforcement partners" in coming days to review security plans for the Derby on May 4," said John Asher, Churchill Downs spokesman. "That's something we do every year, especially since 2002."
About 450 law enforcement personnel from local, state and federal agencies provided security at Churchill Downs on Derby Day last year, officials said then.
The Thunder Over Louisville fireworks and airshow, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to the banks of the Ohio River each year, will continue as scheduled Saturday, officials of the Kentucky Derby Festival said during a Monday news conference.
Festival Chief Executive Mike Berry said the same is true for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon/miniMarathon on April 27. Those events are expected to draw 17,000 race participants and about 40,000 spectators, said Festival Vice President Matt Gibson.
As of late Monday afternoon, no changes were planned in the timing or security of any Derby Festival events, he and Berry said. Berry said senior festival management met Monday to monitor coverage of the events in Boston.
"Obviously safety is our first priority," he said.
Gibson and Berry said there are standing security plans developed with Louisville Metro Police and other public safety agencies but they did not provide details.
"It outlines exactly what we would go through at an event in case of an emergency and how we prepare for that," Berry said.
"We will take every precaution that we can," said police spokesman Dwight Mitchell. "And certainly our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and the first responders up in Boston right now."
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, resulted in a significant overhaul of Derby security procedures, including restrictions on what can be carried into the track, Asher said. Some of those measures have been tweaked over the years, he said.
Just last week, Churchill Downs added to the list of items banned from the track. Fans will not be allowed to bring tents, poles and stakes on Derby and Oaks days.
The decision was made in light of severe weather at last year's Kentucky Oaks that prompted an evacuation of the infield. Previously banned items include weapons, glass containers, grills, alcoholic beverages and umbrellas.