LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — If you’ve only been to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby or Oaks, a visit during the September meet is a completely different experience.

Gone are the massive crowds and long lines—finding a seat is easy, and placing a bet is almost effortless.

A group of seven couples from southern Illinois recently made the trip to Louisville for a fun friends’ getaway. Only one of them, a woman sporting a floppy hat, had been to Churchill Downs before. As they arrived, their hands were empty—but excitement was high.

“Mint juleps. Here we go,” one of the visitors said with a laugh.

Racing at Churchill resumed Thursday at 5 p.m., with late summer heat replacing the rain-soaked chaos of May. According to track officials, the venue hosts more than 70 racing dates a year, fa

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