Cumberland Run is gearing up for its second Standardbred meet in southeastern Kentucky, with live horse racing held Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov. 5. The 12-day meet starts this Sunday, with the first race scheduled to go off at 1 p.m. Eastern each day.
New this year is the expansion of last year’s opening day carnival to include this Saturday as a pre-racing celebration. Cumberland Run’s free family-friendly carnival this weekend will feature rides, fair games and food trucks. The festivities, positioned through the track’s homestretch, start at 11 a.m. both days.
Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus is among those happily awaiting both the racing and the carnival.
“Corbin is gearing up to host a new season of racing at Cumberland Run and we are quickly learning the sport of harness racing and the ever colourful riders and horses,” Razmus said in an email. “The addition of this new entertainment option has encouraged visitors to linger longer and enjoy the many tourism assets that we have to offer in our region. We are so pleased to have been chosen as the home of beautiful Cumberland Run. Last year's inaugural event included a carnival for the kids, and we are excited this year will include two full days of carnival to kick off this year's racing season. We hope to see everyone there!”
Admission and parking are free for live racing and the carnival. While The Mint Cumberland Run’s indoor gaming facility is restricted to those at least 21 years old, the outdoor area overlooking the racetrack is open to all ages.
Those coming for the races will see many of harness racing’s premier horsepeople. Those include Cumberland Run’s 2023 leading trainer Tony Alagna and Ron Burke, whose 620 wins and $16.7 million USD in purses in 2024 alone are more than double the nearest competition. Drivers returning include Andy Miller, who led last year’s Cumberland Run standings in wins (17) and earnings ($403,700 USD); U.S. Hall of Famer David Miller and Dexter Dunn, who leads North America in 2024 earnings after taking the money title in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and just missing last year.
“We expect all the top trainers and drivers to come back,” said Ted Nicholson, Vice President of Racing for Cumberland Run. “That’s the beauty of harness racing. You can get up close to the horses and these world-class horsemen, with our five-eighths of a mile track providing an excellent view throughout. It doesn’t matter if you understand Standardbred racing’s subtleties or have never before been to a horse track, our goal is a good time for everyone. We hope the carnival brings out families for the first time, and the horses bring them back.”
Cumberland Run, just off the Corbin Bypass, is halfway between Lexington, Ky., and Knoxville, Tenn. The track is located just a few miles off Interstate 75’s Exit 29 coming south from Richmond and Lexington and from I-75 Exit 25 heading north from Williamsburg and Tennessee.
(Cumberland Run)