'They're allowed to shoot you': Tiz the Law trainer concerned about protests during Derby

Lucas Aulbach
Louisville Courier Journal

Barclay Tagg, the trainer of Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law, has said in days leading up to Saturday's race that he's concerned about planned protests that are set to take place outside Churchill Downs.

He drove that point home Tuesday as he spoke with reporters inside the famed Louisville racetrack.

“I don’t know what these guys are going to do, these rioters," Tagg said following the post-position draw for the weekend's race. "Who knows? All I know is you’re not allowed to shoot them, and they’re allowed to shoot you. That’s what it looks like to me, so I don’t know what to think about it.”

More:Protest planned during the Kentucky Derby seeks to amplify Breonna Taylor message

Protests have been taking place daily in Louisville since late May over the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black emergency room technician who was killed in a shooting at her apartment by Louisville Metro Police officers executing a no-knock warrant. Several local and national groups have said they plan to rally at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at South Central Park, just blocks from Churchill Downs, ahead of the race.

Tagg had previously said he planned to keep an eye on the ongoing Louisville protests, describing himself as "very, very concerned" on a media call last week. 

"I don’t want my people hurt, I don’t want myself hurt, I don’t want the horse hurt," Tagg said Friday, according to Horse Racing Nation. "The world’s crazy right now and hopefully we can pull it off without something disastrous happening.”

Barclay Tagg, trainer of Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law. Sept. 1, 2020

The protests in Louisville have been taking place for more than 90 days. Several people suffered nonfatal injuries in a shooting the first night in May, and one person, Tyler Gerth, was shot and killed at Jefferson Square Park in June, but no notable violence has been reported by protesters beyond those incidents. Some looting occurred in the first few nights, as a number of people broke into several downtown businesses (three people were recently federally charged in connection with the looting, U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman announced Wednesday), but widespread property damage has not been reported in recent weeks.

Saturday's protest at South Central Park will include protesters associated with Until Freedom, a national social justice group that has moved to Louisville in recent months to support the ongoing demonstrations, as well as supporters from local groups like the Justice and Freedom Coalition.

Saturday's race, meanwhile, is set to start at 7:01 p.m. Tagg's horse, Tiz the Law, will break from the No. 17 post and is the overwhelming favorite, with 3-5 odds.

Related:Post positions, draw, odds, field for the 2020 Kentucky Derby

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Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach. Support strong local journalism and subscribe: www.courier-journal.com/lucasa.