Meteorologists at the National Weather Service have confirmed that a toronado accompanied by severe thunderstorms tore through Louisville, Ky., Wednesday night and damaged structures at Churchill Downs.
Five large barns on the grounds of the historic horse racetrack were heavily damaged by the storms, which packed a punch complete with powerful wind gusts and funnel clouds as reported by eyewitnesses.
While no persons or any of the 200 horses contained within the barns were injured, several of the animals escaped and later had to be corralled into a safe shelter.
The damage to the barns, including a complete roof failure of at least one building, was enough to force the cancelation of all races today.
Dormitories and living quarters of stable workers were also damaged by strong winds. Fortunately, the iconic twin spires at the track known internationally for hosting the Kentucky Derby were unharmed.
Additional rounds of storms rolled through the Louisville area throughout the evening and nighttime hours Wednesday, triggering widespread flooding issues.
This wasn't the first time severe weather caused damage at Churchill. A heavy rainstorm flooded the main track and the Kentucky Derby Museum in August 2009, causing more than $5 million in damage.