There’s a lot going on at Churchill Downs on opening day, but the fun is just getting started. Fridays during the meet are Friday Happy Hours. From 3-5 p.m. fans can enjoy live entertainment and $2 Budweisers in the paddock. The Friday entertainment includes J.D. Shelburne (Nov. 2), Horizontal Boogie Band (Nov. 9), Olivia Henken (Nov. 16), and Eight Inch Elvis (Nov. 23).
In addition to Sunday’s two graded stakes races, 10 graded stakes will be run during the meet, including the Grade III Ack Ack Handicap (Nov. 2), the Grade II Chilukki (Nov. 3), the Grade III Cardinal Handicap (Nov. 10), the Grade III Commonwealth Turf and Grade II Mrs. Revere (Nov. 17), the Grade II Falls City Handicap (Nov. 22), the Grade 1 Clark Handicap (Nov. 23), the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club and Grade II Golden Rod (Nov. 24), and the Grade III River City Handicap (Nov. 25).
Although the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be run this year at Santa Anita Park in Cal., Churchill Downs will offer live racing (including two graded stakes races) and simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3.
