Turfway Park is a horse racing track located in Florence, in northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. The track was opened in 1959 as "Latonia Race Course," not far from the original Latonia Race Track in Covington, Kentucky which hosted thoroughbred racing from 1883 to 1939. The track's name was changed to Turfway Park in 1987 under owner Jerry Carroll. In 2005, Turfway Park became the first American track to install the new Polytrack synthetic racing surface. In late 2019 Churchill Downs Inc agreed to purchase Turfway Park and install over $100 million of improvements.

Chaplain

Pável Urruchi

Phone: 859-444-2948

Pável serves as chaplain at both Turfway Park and Belterra Park in the greater Cincinnati area. He offers a ministry of presence on the backside, touching lives for the gospel. Before coming to Erlanger Baptist Church in 2015, he pastored Hispanic congregations in Arkansas and Mississippi while enrolled in college and seminary. Currently, he is working toward a doctorate in mission theology. He is a naturalized citizen, originally from Lima, Perú. He met his wife, Leah, while helping American churches to prepare for mission trips in South America. They have two young children, which leaves him with little time to practice guitar and play soccer.

Assistant Chaplain

Fabian Crespo

Phone: 575-802-5008

Fabian is the Assistant Chaplain at both Turfway and Belterra.

Our Volunteers

The Chaplaincy relies on volunteers and donations to support its good work. The annual "Race for Grace" event is also an important source of ongoing financial support for the chaplains' outreach and ministry. This fundraising dinner—held every year the Monday evening before the Kentucky Derby—is supported by retired Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who is actively involved in the chaplaincy's work.

Volunteer