Churchill Downs has entered into an agreement with Australian-based Steriline Racing to design and construct a new custom-made, 20-stall starting gate that will be used for the 146th running of the GI Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 2, the track announced Monday. The new starting gate will be utilized exclusively for the Kentucky Derby and will replace Churchill Downs' standard starting gate, which will continue to be used for all other races.
A six-stall “auxiliary starting gate” addition, which was attached to Churchill's main 14-horse starting gate, was first used in 1942 and 54 times for the Kentucky Derby within that period, including each of the last 22 years. The origination of a 20-stall starting gate eliminates the wide gap between post position number 14 in the standard gate and number 15 in the auxiliary gate.
“We believe that a new custom-made, 20-stall starting gate will deliver a clean start for all horses and enhance safety for horses and riders in the Kentucky Derby,” said Mike Ziegler, Executive Director of Racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “We're thrilled to partner with Australia's Steriline Racing to supply this new starting gate at Churchill Downs.”
The new contiguous 20-stall starting gate, which is due to arrive in early April, is 65-feet wide and will fit comfortably within the 120-foot space on the racetrack at the quarter-mile pole for the start of the Kentucky Derby.
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