Churchill Downs upgrading premium clubhouse seating in time for 2016 Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs plans to offer more premium seating with an $18 million project expected to be done in time for next year's Kentucky Derby.

The Louisville track said Tuesday the project will modernize its Turf Club and other premium clubhouse areas.

The track says the project will increase premium seating capacity by 41 percent, from 1,886 to 2,660, in areas being upgraded. It says total reserved seating for the Derby will increase from 57,880 to 58,654.

Derby attendance reached a record this year, with more than 170,000 people watching American Pharoah start his run to the Triple Crown.

The track says the interior renovations will begin after its fall meet wraps up in late November.

It's the latest in a series of renovations at the track that opened in 1875.