John Asher

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (NASDAQ: CHDN) has launched www.KentuckyDerby.com, the official Web site for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and definitive online resource for information about the Kentucky Derby experience.

The all-inclusive Web site, redesigned in conjunction with Texas-based FooCulture, features a clean, classy, condensed and easy-to-navigate homepage with quick links to user-friendly sections. The updated site is loaded with colorful imagery that pulls visitors in to the spectacle that is America’s original, extravagant, springtime sports party and well represents the many intriguing aspects of the Kentucky Derby brand.

“Whether you’re a casual sports fan, entertainment seeker or diehard horse racing enthusiast, KentuckyDerby.com is the ultimate online destination for the Kentucky Derby experience – and it’s the only Web site you need to visit for everything Derby related,” said Julie Koenig-Loignon, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s vice president of brand development and marketing. “We designed the site to blend  the rich history and time-honored traditions that Derby fans love about the ‘Run for the Roses’ with fresh, fun entertainment content that showcases the tremendous social experience wrapped around America’s greatest horse race.”

All-encompassing information about top Kentucky Derby prospects, important prep races and expert analysis is just a mouse click away in the “Contenders” area. Meanwhile, comprehensive Derby race histories as well as entertainment and lifestyle segments featuring updates on Derby fashions, signature cuisine, Red Carpet interviews and local celebrity parties can be found in the retooled “Derby Experience” section.
 
Additionally, there are areas devoted to breaking news and visitor information, plus easy-to-find e-commerce tabs for Kentucky Derby and Oaks tickets, official Derby photographs and merchandise and online wagering through TwinSpires.com. There are handy links to Derby party planning tools, social networking channels, the “Road to the Roses” Derby fantasy game and home page links to local community and business partners that contribute to the entire Derby hospitality effort in Louisville, Ky.

Content will be added throughout the Derby season and integrated with video updates from veteran Churchill Downs’ racing analyst Jill Byrne and popular Louisville entertainment reporter Angie Fenton. Byrne will give fans a unique behind-the-scenes look at promising Kentucky Derby contenders and their jockeys, trainers and owners while also offering weekly previews of upcoming Derby prep races. Fenton will deliver entertaining reports on a broad range of topics, including Derby party-planning tips, fashion dos and don’ts and the latest dish on celebrities and the Derby party scene.

John Asher, Churchill Downs’ vice president of racing communications, will join Byrne and handicappers Kellie Reilly and James Scully of Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRISNet.com) for expert analysis and opinion about Derby contenders, including Top 10 rankings. BRISNet.com and the Churchill Downs communications department will team to provide breaking news updates.

Approximately 2.4 million unique users, including nearly one million unique visitors in the weeks surrounding the Kentucky Derby, visited KentuckyDerby.com in 2009.

Annually staged at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on the first Saturday in May, this year’s $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby (Grade I) is scheduled for May 1. The 1 ¼-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds – the first leg of horse racing’s famed Triple Crown series – was first run in 1875, which makes “The Run for the Roses” the oldest continuously held sporting event in North America. Approximately 150,000 people attend the Kentucky Derby in person with more than 20 million people tuning in via television and radio worldwide.

The companion Web site for the Derby’s sister race, the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, will launch the week of Feb. 15, while a new-and-improved  KentuckyDerbyParty.com, the official site for Kentucky Derby Party planning, will debut in early March.

    Churchill Downs Incorporated, (“CDI”), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates four world renowned Thoroughbred racing facilities: Arlington Park in Illinois, Calder Casino and Race Course in Florida, Churchill Downs Race Track in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana.  CDI operates slot and gaming operations in Louisiana and Florida.  CDI tracks are host to North America’s most prestigious races, including the Arlington Million, the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, the Louisiana Derby and the Princess Rooney, along with hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5-6, 2010.  CDI also owns off-track betting facilities, TwinSpires.com and other advance-deposit wagering channels, television production, telecommunications and racing service companies such as BRIS and a 50-percent interest in the national cable and satellite network, HorseRacing TV, which supports CDI’s network of simulcasting and racing operations.  CDI’s Entertainment Group produces the HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs Racetrack which premieres on July 23-25, 2010.  CDI trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.

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Churchill Downs Incorporated (“Company” or “CDI”) (NASDAQ: CHDN) has partnered with www.HorseplayerPRO.com to provide interactive online discussions between horse racing fans and a panel of experts each race day throughout Churchill Downs’ upcoming 21-day Fall Meet. The 120th Fall Meet will begin its four-week run on Sunday, Nov. 1 and continue through Saturday, Nov. 28.

    Horseplayer PRO utilizes live chat technology in hosting an interactive experience capable of accommodating tens of thousands of participants simultaneously. The race-day chats can be accessed at www.ChurchillDowns.com or www.HorseplayerPRO.com and will begin 30 minutes before the 12:40 p.m. ET first race. The discussions will continue throughout the racing program until the final race of the day.

Fans will be able to exchange handicapping insights and receive useful handicapping information and advice from a team of experts, including Horseplayer PROs Jeremy Plonk, Joe Kristufek, Tim Turrell and Brian Spencer. Additional analysis will be provided by on-site guests such as Churchill Downs’ John Asher, Jill Byrne and Mark Johnson.

“We’re excited to team with Horseplayer PRO on this promising new online opportunity,” said Tom Jenkins, Churchill Downs Incorporated vice president. “In order to grow horse racing’s fan base and bring back lapsed customers, we need to continue to utilize modern technologies and find ways to become more fun than the other forms of entertainment with which we compete. These progressive on-line chats present an appealing and entertaining platform for customers to connect with one another and receive insightful commentary and useful handicapping information. Simultaneously, it also allows us the opportunity to showcase our product offerings and communicate to an enthusiastic and captive audience. Unquestionably, Horseplayer PRO will help broaden the scope of interaction with fans of our sport.”  
 
    In addition to hosting the race-day chats, Horseplayer PRO producers create interactive polls and a race-day scoreboard to follow winning connections, prices and track trends. The chat module is embedded into a specially designed Horseplayer PRO webpage that provides visitors a plethora of race-day information. With a simple mouse-click, chatters can find entries, weather, scratches/changes, results, jockey/trainer stats, news and selections without leaving the chat.

    “The marriage of a new-brand venture like Horseplayer PRO with some of the sport’s most renowned racing institutions makes a strong statement about the importance of horseplayers,” said Plonk, managing partner of Horseplayer PRO. “We look at the live chat experience as equal parts camaraderie and consultation, where horseplayers live and learn in real time. Our initial chat ventures with Remington Park have proven beneficial to the track brand as well as the bottom line in wagering handle.”

    “The chats give online fans a community feel,” Kristufek said. “The experience appeals to all levels of horseplayers, from the beginner to the expert. We’re all playing the races together – analyzing past performances, discussing pace scenarios, watching the odds, examining the horses in the post parade and seeking out potential track trends. The insider contributions provided on-site from the track announcer and analysts are invaluable.”

    In addition to racing from Churchill Downs, the action from Fair Grounds will be spotlighted on the Horseplayer PRO chats starting Sunday, Nov. 8. The New Orleans racetrack begins its season on Friday, Nov. 6.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875.  Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010. The track will conduct its 2009 Fall Meet from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 28.  Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on November 5 and 6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.
 
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Churchill Downs has launched the official Web site for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, www.kentuckyderby.com, which will offer unparalleled coverage of the horse racing season leading up to the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. [asset|height=12|width=1] Employing advanced Web technology, the site serves as an all-inclusive online resource for the entire Kentucky Derby experience, from in-depth contender information to full-scale treatment of the lavish entertainment and party atmosphere that surrounds the historic event.

“Kentuckyderby.com brings together all the different elements of the Kentucky Derby experience into one user-friendly site,” said Jeremy Borseth, senior director of channel services and Internet operations for Churchill Downs Incorporated.  “It pays tribute to the time-honored traditions and pageantry of the ‘Run for the Roses,’ while at the same time reflecting the latest online technology to help fans stay informed.  Whether you’re a passionate racing fan, a Derby party host, or a newcomer attracted to the Kentucky Derby scene, you’ll find everything you need at Kentuckyderby.com, including how to buy tickets, where to go, and what to see in Louisville.”

Among the new components of the official Kentucky Derby 135 Web site is an expanded lifestyle and entertainment section, which includes Red Carpet and Derby celebrity photo galleries, information on the official Kentucky Derby Party program, and insider’s peeks at Millionaires Row and the boisterous infield.  Kentuckyderby.com will also serve as the online home for an exciting array of Kentucky Derby 135 events and programs, which will be unveiled in the weeks ahead.

A focal point of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Web site remains the “contenders” pages, which include videos, photographs, detailed pedigree analyses, workout information, and past performances.  These pages are supplemented by an area dedicated to Kentucky Derby prep races, which provides complete previews and recaps of every major prep race on the Kentucky Derby trail, including video replays, video analysis by Churchill Downs experts, past performance charts, official results, and stakes recaps.  The site also contains exclusive analysis videos and interviews, as well as comprehensive historical archives of past runnings of the Kentucky Derby.

A user-friendly navigation bar near the top of the Kentucky Derby site home page provides quick links to Kentucky Derby and Oaks ticketing information, a summary of Derby history and traditions, and a link to the official online Kentucky Derby Store, located at www.kentuckyderby.com/store, where fans may purchase officially licensed Kentucky Derby 135 apparel and souvenirs.

One popular item returning in 2009 is a suite of advanced interactive online tools that link visitors to Kentucky Derby content available through YouTube, Facebook, and other popular social networking platforms.  The site will offer weekly video podcasts, also available through Apple’s iTunes and YouTube, to provide the latest information on all major Kentucky Derby prep races and contenders.  From the site’s download section, fans may also enjoy free access to wallpaper, ringtones, and a host of other Derby-themed applications.

John Asher, who serves as vice president of racing communications for Churchill Downs, will be joined by Churchill Downs analyst Jill Byrne and expert handicapper James Scully as racing analysts in place for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Web site.  Bloodstock Research Information Services, an industry-leading data services company owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, is providing news content and pedigree information.  The site also features blogs by Justin Dew, who will analyze the racing and wagering aspects of the Kentucky Derby, and Caroline Smith, who will focus on the fashion and entertainment scene of Kentucky Derby 135.

The official Web site for the 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks, www.kentuckyoaks.com, is expected to launch in March 2009.

Kentuckyderby.com is the official Web site of the Kentucky Derby and is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. As one of the world’s premier sporting events and the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May. The 135th running of this celebrated event is scheduled for May 2, 2009, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.  Approximately 150,000 people attend the Kentucky Derby in person, with more than 20 million people tuning in via television and radio worldwide.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875.  Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track.  Churchill Downs will conduct the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009.  The track’s 2009 Spring Meet will take place from April 25 through July 5.  Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on November 5 and 6, 2010.  Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

Churchill Downs and Great Britain’s Kempton Park Racecourse have announced a partnership to create a race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that will provide a clear path for the winner to a starting spot in the field for the 2009 running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

The $150,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes (“KDCS”) is a 1 1/8-mile race that will be run clockwise over Kempton’s Polytrack course on March 18, 2009.  In addition to earning a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2, the KDCS winner will also receive a $100,000 bonus if the horse competes in the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes is designed to encourage international participation in America’s greatest race.  There has not been an international competitor in the race since 2002, when there were three.  Those horses included the Aidan O’Brien-trained Johannesburg (8th) and Castle Gandolfo (12th), and Essence of Dubai (9th), who competed for Dubai-based Godolphin. Canonero II, based in Venezuela, shipped to Churchill Downs to score an upset win in the Kentucky Derby in 1971 and remains the only horse based outside of North America to win the race.

“The Kentucky Derby is naturally a compelling and exciting event, but the presence of international contenders always adds to the anticipation and intrigue surrounding America’s greatest race,” said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs and executive vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated.  “It has been wonderful to work with Kempton Park and officials of its owning body, Britain’s Jockey Club Racecourses, in this innovative effort to encourage the presence of an international competitor in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.  A consistent international presence in the Derby will strengthen worldwide interest in our race and, in the long term, boost demand for the event as we work to expand distribution of Kentucky Derby wagering opportunities into new international markets.”

Churchill Downs will provide $90,000 of the purse while Kempton will contribute $60,000.  The $100,000 bonus, if awarded, will be provided by Churchill Downs.  The owner of the KDCS winner will still be responsible for all fees associated with the race, along with shipping costs.  The Triple Crown nomination fee makes the horse eligible for all of the American classics: the Kentucky Derby, the $1 million Preakness (GI) at Pimlico Race Course and the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park.

The race will provide an additional incentive to owners and trainers who in the past may have been hesitant to point toward the Kentucky Derby because of uncertainty over whether their horse would have sufficient graded stakes earnings to qualify for the field.  European contenders, in particular, have been at a disadvantage because their racing season generally gets underway later than the North American schedule and offers few graded stakes opportunities early in the year.

“The Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes at Kempton is a great initiative created by both Churchill Downs and Kempton Park,” said Dermot Weld, who saddled Irish-based Go and Go to win Belmont Stakes in 1990. “If I were to have the right horse for the job I would most definitely target the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes at Kempton as a qualifying race ahead of the ‘Run for the Roses’.”

“I think the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes is a great idea and hopefully we will have runners in it,” said Aidan O’Brien, the Irish-based trainer who has saddled 20 Group One stakes winners in Europe thus far in 2008.  O’Brien’s success in travels to the United States includes three victories in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

“There has long been significant international interest in participating in the Kentucky Derby, but the current system that successfully uses earnings in graded stakes races to determine eligibility to compete has discouraged some international stables from pointing toward our race,” said Sexton.  “The unique structure of the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes purse will provide the winning owner and trainer with an opportunity to focus on a Derby bid well in advance of the race.  We’ve been gratified by the positive response to the concept from major trainers overseas, and hope the interest generated by a regular international presence in the Kentucky Derby will encourage other owners and trainers to look more seriously at a trip to Churchill Downs for horses displaying the potential to be serious candidates for the Derby and the Triple Crown races.”

The Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes will be run under lights at Kempton Park.  The race is an enhancement of a Conditions race that was won this year by Campanologist, who has since won the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished second in the recent Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes at York.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. The track’s 2008 Fall Meet is scheduled for Oct. 26-Nov. 29. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.