Kentucky Oaks 135

Churchill Downs Racetrack, host of the Kentucky Derby® and the Kentucky Oaks®, wants you to help support the fight against breast cancer by purchasing tickets to Kentucky Oaks 135 at www.KentuckyOaks.com/Komen! The Kentucky Oaks is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2009, one day before the famed “Run for the Roses.”

To help raise money and awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, Churchill Downs has planned an exciting day of events for race-goers. There will be a “First Lady of Fashion” contest, Survivors Parade and even the first-ever Kentucky Oaks winner’s circle formed by breast cancer survivors. Churchill Downs will also create special areas in the infield where Komen for the Cure supporters can gather and enjoy Oaks Day.  Komen survivors and supporters will also have a chance to meet Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, who will be honored as the inaugural First Lady of Oaks.

Here’s how it works.  Churchill Downs will donate at least $100,000 to Komen from funds from Kentucky Oaks 135 general admission and reserve seating attendance.  If Komen survivors and supporters at Oaks 135 sets a new attendance record (current Oaks Day record is 111,243), Churchill Downs will donate $1 for every Oaks attendee, up to a maximum donation of $135,000.  Komen supporters will also have the chance to purchase tickets to two Infield Suites that will be specifically reserved for them.  Komen will receive $100 for every designated Infield Suite ticket sold.

With pink being the official color of the day, Churchill Downs is staging a total “Pink Out” at the track on Oaks Day. So pull out your cutest or most handsome pink outfit and show your support!

Even if you can’t make it to Louisville, you can get involved by visiting www.kentuckyderbyparty.com for a specially designed Passionately Pink for the Cure ® branded invitation and everything needed to throw an Oaks or Derby party as a fundraiser at home.

To build on the excitement of the day, Bravo will air a special featuring the food, fashion and celebrity experience associated with Kentucky Oaks Day! The program will include special on-track events related to the new partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and will air from 5-6 p.m. EDT on May 1.

And as if things couldn’t get any more exciting, “Top Chef: The Tour” will be part of Churchill’s new Infield Club hospitality area.  The Top Chef Tour stop at the Kentucky Oaks will feature some of the show’s “chef’testants” hosting four interactive shows in the Infield Club, with limited reserved seating available. Cooking demonstrations, gourmet tips, show secrets and food tastings will be highlighted from the Top Chef Tour unit, a state-of-the-art customized traveling kitchen with expansive space to accommodate cooks and fans alike.  Top Chef: The Tour will also include trivia contests, information kiosks, and an opportunity for Infield Club guests to interact with the “chef’testants.”

Churchill Downs will also help to raise money for Horses and Hope, a breast cancer initiative of Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear and the Kentucky Cancer Program, on Oaks Day.

For more information on the Kentucky Oaks and the partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, please visit http://ww5.komen.org/ContentSimpleLeft.aspx?id=16122&terms=Oaks and follow @komenforthecure and @derbyoaks on Twitter.
 
About Churchill Downs
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 Nov. 5 and 6, 2010.  Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.
 
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
 
About Bravo
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980.  Information about Bravo can be found on the Internet at www.bravotv.com.

Churchill Downs will soon make Kentucky Derby dreams come true for 500 horse racing fans, as the racetrack today announced an expanded public drawing for guests to purchase two seats to the upcoming 135th "Run for the Roses," scheduled for May 2, 2009.  [asset|text=Click here for complete rules.|aid=3657|format=link|height=128|width=128]

Beginning on Saturday, Nov. 22, and continuing each live race day through closing day, Nov. 29, Churchill Downs will hold live drawings for reserved seats to Kentucky Derby 135.  Churchill Downs' guests will have one chance each day, for six days, to have their names drawn for the opportunity to purchase the reserved seats.  A total of 500 pairs of tickets, or 1,000 in total, will be made available for the public drawing.

"Our goal in creating the public drawing for the right to purchase reserved seats to the Kentucky Derby two years ago was to allow an even broader audience to enjoy America's premier horse race first-hand, especially racing fans from Louisville and neighboring communities who support Churchill Downs on a year-round basis," said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs and executive vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated.  "Setting aside reserved seats for the general public to purchase gives our fans added opportunities to personally experience the excitement and energy of the first Saturday in May.  This year, we wanted to expand the ways in which customers can become eligible for a chance to purchase tickets, and we believe this new format will allow even more opportunity for our guests to enjoy the ‘Run for the Roses' with us in 2009."

Churchill Downs' guests may enter each daily drawing by filling out an entry form with their contact information at Guest Services stations located inside Gate 17 or outside of Gate 10 in the clubhouse.  Entries must be completed and turned in to the Guest Services stations between the time gates open (11 a.m. EST on Nov. 22, 23, and 26, and 10 a.m. EST on Nov. 27-29) by 1:35 p.m. EST in order to be eligible for that day's drawing.  Individuals who wish to enter the drawing without paying an admission charge may do so at the Gate 10 Guest Services station, which is located outside of the Gate 10 admission booths.  Entries must be received by 1:35 p.m. in order to be eligible for that day's drawing.  No late entries will be admitted into the drawing.  Guests who miss the 1:35 p.m. deadline to enter may try again on the next racing day until Saturday, Nov. 29, closing day of the 2008 Fall Meet.

Entry forms are good for one drawing only.  For multiple chances to be selected, guests must visit on multiple days to complete a new entry form at each visit.

Following the fourth race (approximately 2 p.m.) on Nov. 22, 23 and 26 and following the sixth race on Nov. 27-29, Churchill Downs will draw from all eligible entries and announce over the public address system the names of those who have won the right to purchase two tickets to Kentucky Derby 135.  A total of 50 names will be drawn on Nov. 22 and 23, while 100 names will be drawn daily from Wednesday, Nov. 26, through closing day, Saturday, Nov. 29.  Winners will be announced after every race through the end of the race card.

Winners who are present should proceed to the Guest Services station at Gate 17 no later than 5 p.m., where they will be allowed to personally draw for their Kentucky Derby 135 reserved seats.  For winners who are not present by 5 p.m., a Churchill Downs guest services representative will draw on their behalf. 

All winners will be notified by Churchill Downs and will automatically be invoiced using the information provided on the entry form.  Payment for invoiced tickets will be due to Churchill Downs no later than Jan. 30, 2009.  No tickets will be distributed to winners until payment has been received in full.

Guests are eligible to enter once daily, and they may only win once for the duration of the contest.  Winners' names will be entered into Churchill Downs' records for Kentucky Derby 135 reserved seats.  Once an individual's name has been selected, that guest WILL NOT be eligible to enter the drawing again.

The seats available include a variety of clubhouse and grandstand seats, ranging from grandstand bleacher seats to clubhouse boxes.  The ticket prices per seat range from $88 to $207 ($176 to $414 per pair).  Seats will only be made available in pairs and cannot be purchased individually.

Customers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the public drawing.  Employees of Churchill Downs Incorporated, Levy Restaurants and Brantley Services are not eligible to participate.

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 runs from October 26 through November 29. 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 racetrack has announced a freeze in most ticket prices for the 2009 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, allowing customers to purchase the majority of reserved seats and general admission at the same price levels offered in 2008.  The 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009, while Kentucky Derby 135 will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

"Our slowing economy is having a pronounced effect, and many of our customers have been affected in various ways as well," said Bob Evans, president and chief executive officer of Churchill Downs Incorporated.  "Although the Kentucky Derby occupies an elite spot in the world of sports and tickets are typically in high demand, we want to keep our price points at the same level to help our customers in this challenging economic climate.  Our fans are critical to our success, and we hope this announcement makes it easier for them to join us on the first Saturday in May next year to enjoy the excitement of Kentucky Derby 135."

The freeze in Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks ticket prices includes the majority of Churchill's permanent seats, as well as most temporary seating areas and general admission on the day of the events.  There will be a previously scheduled price increase by contract for customers in the 30-year personal seat license program, who are coming off a three-year price freeze by contract, and limited price increases in some luxury suites and for a handful of Marquee Village units adjacent to the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet venue, as well as a new price structure for a new reserved seating section in the infield that Churchill Downs will pilot in 2009.

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 runs from October 26 through November 29. 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.