Derby Tradition Changing This Year

A Kentucky Derby (gr. I) tradition is changing this year--the route the winner of the race takes to the winner's circle.

In the past, the winner has jogged to the winner's circle on the turf course, entering the grass course on the backside. This year, the winner will return on the main track, and then enter the grass course at about the three-sixteenths pole. He will then walk to the winner's circle.

"We wanted to do this for the fans," Churchill Downs publicity director Tony Terry said. "This way the horse will be closer to the fans."

Nineteen horses will run in Saturday's 130th Derby, with Wimbledon being scratched the day before the race. Post time is 6:04 p.m. at the Louisville, Ky., racetrack.