Turfway Park: A Racing Legacy Reborn

Just a short, one-hour drive north on I-71 from Louisville, and even shorter from LaGrange, sits a landmark that’s hard to miss – the giant water tower proclaiming “Florence Y’all!” Originally reading “Florence Mall,” the tower once served as a final Kentucky signpost before crossing into Ohio. Yet, another, less prominent landmark in Florence has significantly impacted Boone County’s economy since 1883: Turfway Park Racing and Gaming.

From Latonia to Turfway: A History of Racing

The racetrack’s origins trace back to 1883 in Covington, Kentucky, initially known as Latonia Race Track. Financial difficulties forced its closure in 1939, but it was resurrected in 1959 and relocated to Florence, becoming Latonia Race Course. In 1986, Jerry Carroll rebranded Latonia as Turfway Park. Carroll was also involved in the founding of Kentucky Speedway. By 1999, Turfway was sold to Harrah’s Entertainment and Keeneland Association.

Innovation and Investment

In 2005, Turfway Park became the first track in the nation to install Polytrack, an all-weather synthetic racing surface designed to mitigate weather-related cancellations during the winter racing season. Further evolution came with the acquisition by Churchill Downs Inc. In 2019, leading to a $100 million rebuild completed in 2022, resulting in the modern Turfway Park Racing and Gaming facility. In 2020, Churchill Downs invested $5.6 million to replace the Polytrack surface with Tapeta, a surface considered safer and more reliable, invented by former trainer Michael Dickinson.

Legends of the Track

Turfway Park has been home to notable figures in horse racing. Track announcer Tom Durkin famously called Da Hoss’s remarkable comeback victory in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, declaring it “the greatest comeback since Lazarus!” Mike Battaglia served as the track announcer for nearly half a century, and his father, John Battaglia, was a former General Manager of the track, with a memorial race named in his honor.

Derby Prep Races

Turfway Park plays a crucial role in the Kentucky Derby prep race season. Two horses have gone on to win the Run for the Roses after competing at Turfway: Lil E. Tee in 1992 and Animal Kingdom in 2011. Other notable horses to race at Turfway include Serena’s Song, Preakness winners Hansel, Summer Squall, and Prairie Bayou, and Derby contenders Broad Brush, Perfect Drift, and Flower Alley.

Recent Derby Prep Race Results

The Jeff Ruby Steaks is scheduled for March 21st at Turfway Park. Recent Derby prep races have seen exciting results:

• Gotham Stakes (Aqueduct, March 2nd): Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown, won the 1-mile race with a time of 1:37.94, earning 50 points towards the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
• Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gulfstream Park, March 2nd): Commandment, trained by Brad Cox, secured victory in the 1 1/16th mile race with a time of 1:43.33, earning 50 points. Chief Wallabee also performed impressively.
• Rebel Stakes (Oaklawn Park, March 3rd): Class President, ridden by John Velazquez, won the 1 1/16th mile race in 1:43.21, earning 50 points. Silent Tactic finished a close second.

The racing season continues to unfold, with upcoming races at Tampa Bay and Santa Anita promising further excitement and shaping the field for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.