Churchill Downs adding room for 1,800 in time for 2018 Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Churchill Downs says it will complete a $37 million project in time to add more than 1,800 seats for the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

The Louisville track says the project will add new luxury suites, interior dining tables and third-floor seats. The new space on the north end of the facility will have three floors of individual suites and dining and event space.

The suites will have indoor lounge seating with a bar and a private tiered balcony overlooking the start of the Kentucky Derby.

The track said in a news release Thursday that the project includes up to 36 new luxury suites for 1,140 guests in groups of various sizes, event space on each of three levels providing interior dining for 576 guests and construction of 110 new third-floor Grandstand seats.