Share this article Share this article LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The race was on – safely – for more than 50,000 spectators Saturday at the 147 th Kentucky Derby in part thanks to Pittsburgh-based technology company AERAS. The company, which is the first and only recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 137 certification specifically for sanitization purposes, used its patented charged-electrostatic drone technology to sanitize Churchill Downs against COVID-19, returning fans to the oldest sporting event in the United States by using the latest and most innovative technology. "It's awesome having a hand in bringing back massive in-person sporting events after a year of uncertainty," said Eric Lloyd, CEO and co-founder of AERAS. "Seeing thousands of cheering fans enjoying the Kentucky Derby safely felt like a huge victory over COVID-19."