[callmejrk1]

A tornado was reported to have touched down in Churchill Downs and near the University of Louisville Belknap campus, with a tornado warning issued for Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby counties until 9:15 p.m.
The tornado was moving northeast at 20 mph.
Churchill Down reported a touchdown in its infield, with two buildings damaged and wires down. There was no reported damage to the front of Churchill, officials said.
However, at least one barn took significant damage to the roof. But Churchill officials reported no initial injuries so far. They are still checking.
A business near Central Avenue and Floyd Street reported a roof torn off and walls caved in as well as power lines being blown down, according to the National Weather Service.
Poles also were snapped at Floyd and Central, and one woman was injured by flying debris in the Southern Parkway area, according to EMS Director Doug Hamilton.
Damage was also reported around Cardinal Stadium, where fire fighters were battling problems with down lines.

At least five barns were damaged Wednesday at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, when a powerful storm that spawned tornadoes blew through Louisville, and horses were running loose, officials said.

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Officials have no immediate reports of injuries to humans or horses.
The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down near the famed track and the University of Louisville campus about 8:10 p.m. EDT. Though no races are run on Wednesdays, there was simulcasting of races elsewhere, so people were there, said track President Kevin Flanery.
Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rogers says at least five barns had roof damage and the chapel was hit. The barn damage was on the backside of the track where workers live in the dorms, Flanery said.
The iconic twin spires above the clubhouse overlooking the finish line were not apparently damaged, Flanery said.
"Clearly we've got several barns with significant damage and we're just trying to make sure people and the animals are safe first," Flanery said.
Security guards were turning away reporters, citing danger from the loose horses.
The Kentucky Derby has been run for more than 130 years at the track. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown.
No major damage has been reported on the university campus, which is sparsely populated at this time of year, said John Drees, a university spokesman. Drees said there were reports of power outages around campus. Dwight Mitchell, spokesman for Louisville police, said two buildings were damaged near the university.
Eyewitnesses said they saw about a dozen power poles downed near the track and university.
Weather service meteorologist Ryan Sharp said damage also was reported in the Shively area, west of downtown Louisville.


Read more: http://newsok.com/tornado-hits-louis...#ixzz1Q3eXXNa9

[unusialsusp5]

good thing all their good horses are at indiana downs. churchill has gone way downhill this year..practically unplayable with the junk they are running...

[str]

Those horses must have been scared to death.
Can't imagine none of them getting hurt.
People living on the grounds must be owed a huge thank you.

[Seattle Slew]

I quit on Churchill as well. Just can't hit anything there this year.

good thing all their good horses are at indiana downs. churchill has gone way downhill this year..practically unplayable with the junk they are running...

[Brewers in 7]

Went to Churchill this year for the 1st time and was dissapointed in the place, i was expecting more of a Saratoga atmosphere, and what i got was basically Belmont with better looking girls.

[callmejrk1]

yeah churchill on the decline with bigger purses elsewhere

[Gremlin Lad]

SATURDAY JUNE 25 2011

Officials with Churchill Downs have revised the number of horses displaced by the June 22 tornado that damaged nine barns at the Louisville, Ky., track, estimating that between 75 to 100 had to be relocated as a result of the storm’s damage. Churchill officials initially estimated as many as 150 to 200 horses were removed from the damaged barns, but adjusted the number later June 23 as they continued to assess the full extent of the damage from the storm that hit with little warning shortly after 8 p.m. EDT June 22.

Thirty of the displaced horses were relocated to Keeneland in Lexington, some were moved to other areas within the Churchill stable area, and others went to private farms or training centers. Also, Churchill reported that 6 1/2 of the nine damaged barns have been declared unihabitable by fire department officials.

In a release Churchill said Joe Sullivan of the National Weather Service office in Louisville toured the stable area June 24 and confirmed that the damage was inflicted by a tornado that packed top winds of 105 miles per hour as it roared through the Churchill stable area and was rated as an F1 storm on the Fujita Scale, the official classification system for tornado damage.

Racing secretary Ben Huffman said owners and trainers--even those in the storm-damaged barns--pledged their support for the track’s plan to resume its spring meet, which has eight racing days remaining following the storm-related cancellation.