Churchill Downs plans virtual Kentucky Derby Triple Crown showdown for May 2

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Churchill Downs is celebrating what would have been Derby Day 2020 with a virtual race between Triple Crown winners.

"We're calling it the Kentucky Derby Triple Crown Showdown. That race will feature all 13 triple crown winners, who will be racing to see who is the ultimate champion," said Tonya Abeln, Churchill Downs Incorporated, Vice President of Communications.

The charity race will benefit COVID-19 emergency relief efforts. The computer-simulated race is being created by Inspired Entertainment using algorithms put together with historical handicapping information about each horse, which helps predict the probability of how they'd finish against each other.

"They've created something that actually looks like it's happening under the TwinSpires at Churchill Downs," explained Abeln. So, I think our fans are really going to love the ultra-realistic view of this race."

Starting Thursday, April 30, racing fans can go to KentuckyDerby.com to choose their favorite Triple Crown winner and make a donation. All the people who make a donation and pick the winning horse will be entered to win the ultimate Kentucky Derby 146 VIP Experience.

Churchill Downs has pledged to match up to $1 million in donations to go to the Team Kentucky Fund and Direct Relief. A small percentage of the money will be earmarked for the R.E.I.N. Fund (Relief for Equine Industry Needs), a program managed by Churchill Downs Foundation designed to benefit track workers impacted by the pandemic.

The track has also joined with Woodford Reserve, the Kentucky Derby Museum and others to offer Kentucky Derby at Home. They hope the activities for Derby Day will keep the traditions alive while staying "healthy at home." The activities include virtual tours, Derby cocktail lessons, instructions for making fascinators, kids' crafts, party decorations, Derby-inspired recipes and an at-home Derby fashion contest.

Abeln said, "All day on May 2nd, we will be creating content for our fans at home to be able to participate in and follow along."

Kentucky Derby title sponsor, Woodford Reserve, will join the at-home celebration at 2 p.m. with Bourbon, Horses & History hosted by Master Distiller Chris Morris. It will include a demonstration on how to make the perfect Mint Julep while providing information about the history that connects thoroughbreds, bourbon and Derby. At 3 p.m., there will be a Global Live Toast to Derby on Woodford Reserve's Youtube channel.

You can join the virtual party by posting your home Derby Party experience using #KyDerbyAtHome hashtag and by following the Kentucky Derby on social media. Visit KentuckyDerbyParty.com for updates.

"I love that," said Sara Ortego, who is a Derby fan.

Ortego owns Simply Sara O and is a planner, designer and coordinator. She and her partner typically attend the Kentucky Derby, but this year, it's a family affair.

Ortego is looking forward to the virtual race and said, "So, we'll be watching that for sure because that is fun."

Ortego likes attending Derby, but she plans to make the best of Derby from the comforts of her home. In fact, she has already started working on a Derby outfit and drink. "I love Derby and I love everything Derby is about," explained Ortego, who wore a fascinator during an interview with WDRB News. "My daughter and I just put butterflies on it right before you got here," she said. "Because, well, we're stuck at home and it's going to be a home Derby so we thought we'd make our own hats."

The celebration ends with the network re-broadcast of the 2015 race that started American Pharaoh's Triple Crown run.

May 2 was set to be the original date for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. That has since been postponed until Sept. 5 due to COVID-19 concerns. This is only the second time in history that the Derby has been postponed. The first instance was in 1945 because of World War II.

Donations can be made starting April 30 on the Kentucky Derby website.

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