The FBI is a key player in ensuring major sporting events hosted in the U.S. are safe and secure for all involved.
The Kentucky Derby is often called the fastest two minutes in sports. While the race is a brief moment in time, the #FBI and our partners begin planning and preparing months in advance. Each year, @FBILouisville and our partners @HSI_Nashville, @FAANews, @kystatepolice, and @LMPD, devote personnel, hours, and resources to ensure a safe and fun experience for the 300,000+ spectators who visit Churchill Downs over Kentucky Derby weekend.
•This year, our Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Teams detected 6 drones. Three of those drones were seized for violating a Temporary Flight Restriction that was administered for this special event. Three UAS pilots were ticketed.
•FBI Special Agent Bomb Technicians (SABTs) responded to, assessed, and cleared multiple suspicious/unattended package calls.
•FBI Louisville SWAT and Evidence Response Teams were on standby before, during, and after the event to address any potential incident.
•Dozens more special agents and intelligence personnel contributed time and expertise to ensure a successful event weekend for both Kentuckians and thousands of visitors from around the world.
The FBI continues to move full throttle with our interagency partners making major US hosted sporting events like F1, the Club World Cup, the Super Bowl, the approaching 2026 FIFA World Cup, and upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics safe and secure for athletes and viewers.