Kentucky Derby party

Fans of the Kentucky Derby who can’t make it to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May can win a Toshiba flat screen television and fully catered party for 20 by participating in the free “Bring the Derby Home!” sweepstakes at www.KentuckyDerbyParty.com.

KentuckyDerbyParty.com is the official online resource for fans to create the perfect party experience for the Kentucky Derby – America’s original, extravagant and glamorous springtime sports party.

The “Bring the Derby Home!” sweepstakes at KentuckyDerbyParty.com is free to enter for U.S. residents who are at least 21 years of age. One randomly drawn grand prize winner will receive a 32-inch Toshiba flat screen TV; Kentucky Derby merchandise and party supplies; a selection of roses from Calyx & Corolla; and a fully catered party for up to 20 guests at their home for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands on Saturday, May 1.

The deadline to enter is Thursday, April 22 at midnight ET. The winner of the $3,635 prize package will be announced Monday, April 26.

KentuckyDerbyParty.com was first launched in 2008 to connect Kentucky Derby fans worldwide who enjoy hosting annual Kentucky Derby parties on the first Saturday in May. The revamped Web site features colorful designs with user-friendly navigation and a classy and elegant feel that brings the spirit of the rich springtime sports party tradition to life.

Fans can register their Derby parties and issue electronic invitations free of charge through a party planning tool that can manage invites and RSVPs. There are 35 original invitation designs available, as well as a party checklist and list of party ideas, including information about Derby libations and games.

Visitors can also shop for officially licensed party décor, party favors and collectables, including traditional mint julep glasses. There are also sections featuring fantastic cuisine recipes from the premier “Taste of Derby” chefs who give their take on Southern palette pleasers and eye-catching fashion tips from style experts who spotlight the common Derby fashion trends for men’s and women’s attire.

Last year, more than 23,000 party-goers in 113 countries and six continents registered their Kentucky Derby party. “We want Antarctica this year,” quipped Casey Cook, Churchill Downs Incorporated vice president, brand development and licensing.

About Churchill Downs Incorporated
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 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.

Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay knows his recipes – and his horses. The host of the Food Network’s Emmy-awarding winning television show, “Boy Meets Grill,” is no stranger to the horse racing scene, having owned racehorses for a number of years after developing an affinity for the sport.

Flay’s latest connection to the Sport of Kings comes as official host and spokesperson for Kentucky Derby Party (www.kentuckyderby.com/party), a new program launched this spring by Churchill Downs Incorporated designed to connect millions of Kentucky Derby fans worldwide who enjoy hosting annual Kentucky Derby parties on the first Saturday in May.

“The Kentucky Derby is a one-of-a-kind springtime sports party that showcases a unique blend of food, fashion and Southern hospitality against the backdrop of America’s oldest continuously held sporting event,” Flay said. “As a horse racing enthusiast, I love attending the Kentucky Derby in person, and I also enjoy throwing Kentucky Derby parties for family and friends. I am excited to work with Churchill Downs Incorporated on the launch of its official Kentucky Derby Party program and Web site, which offers party hosts and hostesses everything they need to know about Kentucky Derby entertaining.”

“Churchill Downs is thrilled to partner with Chef Bobby Flay on our Kentucky Derby Party program, as we look for ways to extend the Kentucky Derby experience to sports fans around the world,” said Casey Cook, senior director of marketing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “The Kentucky Derby has a tremendous following because it’s more than just a sporting event. The Derby encompasses fantastic cuisine, eye-catching fashion and lavish entertaining – as well as the ‘Greatest Two Minutes in Sports’.

“Through our Kentucky Derby Party program, Churchill Downs hopes to reach out to the millions of party hosts and hostesses scheduling annual Kentucky Derby parties and assist them with a party planning ideas,” Cook continued. “From official party invitations, to menu and beverage options, to games and party favors, to ways guests can actually wager on the Kentucky Derby through Churchill Downs’ official online wagering platform, TwinSpires.com, we want to help horse racing fans around the world bring the Derby home to their friends and families.”

Party hosts and hostesses can visit the official Kentucky Derby Party Web site, Kentuckyderby.com/party to register their event as an “official” Derby party and to send out free electronic invitations to guests. The site also features tips for throwing a Derby party, including recipes and menu ideas from Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay; examples of traditional Derby hats and attire; an online Kentucky Derby Party store offering a variety of party packages; and a social networking platform with blogs, photo and video uploads so partygoers around the world can share their Kentucky Derby experience.

Kentucky Derby Party hosts and their guests can also enter a contest for a chance to attend the 2009 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and walk the official Kentucky Derby Red Carpet with Derby celebrities. Winners of the 2008 contest will be announced as part of the festivities for Kentucky Derby 134 on Saturday, May 3. For more information, or to register your Kentucky Derby Party, visit www.kentuckyderby.com/party.

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 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008. The track’s 2008 Spring Meet runs from April 26 through July 6. 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.