Kentucky Derby Museum

The public unveiling of a larger-than-life bronze statue to celebrate the life of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro will take place at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on the morning of Sunday, April 26. The announcement comes on the second anniversary of Barbaro’s passing on Jan. 29, 2007.

“Churchill Downs will provide additional details about the public unveiling as they become available, but we wanted to make certain that Barbaro’s worldwide legion of fans were made aware of the ceremony’s date,” said Churchill Downs General Manager Jim Gates. “Churchill Downs is proud to have been chosen as Barbaro’s final resting place and this outstanding memorial is certain to become a popular year-round gathering place for horse lovers throughout the world.”

The statue will become the focal point of Barbaro’s official memorial and burial site at Churchill Downs. It will be placed outside Churchill Downs’ Gate 1 and near the entrance to the Kentucky Derby Museum along with Barbaro’s ashes, which will be interred beneath the bronze. Currently, a bronze marker, featuring Barbaro’s likeness, marks the location of the future memorial site beneath a large magnolia tree.

The April 26 ceremony will take place at the memorial site before live racing begins that day. Churchill Downs’ 2009 Spring Meet opens Saturday, April 25, and the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands is scheduled for Saturday, May 2.

“Gretchen and I are very much looking forward to the public ceremony this April,” said Roy Jackson, who bred, raised and raced Barbaro with his wife Gretchen. “We’re absolutely thrilled that Barbaro will be honored at Churchill Downs with a magnificent statue at the site of his greatest race.”

Production of the bronze statue is nearing its final stages with renowned equine sculptor Alexa King. Her design will showcase Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado in mid-flight between strides nearing the finish line in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. The statue will be attached to a horizontal bronze rail that will support the 1,500-pound artwork, creating the impression that Barbaro and his rider are suspended in air. It is the first time that an equine statue of this size and scope has been presented in this manner, with all four of the horse’s feet off the ground.

Earlier this year, Gretchen Jackson said of the statue: “Roy and I want to portray Barbaro as we remember him best – a beautiful racehorse and an athlete.”

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.

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Churchill Downs Incorporated has presented a check for $25,347 to the Kentucky Derby Museum to help in the funding and development of education programs at the museum.  Those programs benefit the more than 22,000 students from schools throughout the region who visit the museum each year.

Churchill Downs Vice President Tom Aronson, a member of the museum’s board of directors, formally presented the Churchill Downs grant to Lynn Ashton, the executive director of the Kentucky Derby Museum, in a brief ceremony on Wednesday, August 20 at the museum’s paddock.

The check represents a grant from Churchill Downs Incorporated Community Relations for Kentucky Derby Museum education programs that benefit the more than 22,000 students from schools in the region who visit the museum each year.

“The Kentucky Derby has a grand tradition and is one of the world’s great sports events, and the Kentucky Derby Museum plays an invaluable role in continuing and strengthening that tradition,” said Aronson. “The Derby is rare in that it is as much a social and cultural celebration as it is a world class sports event. We are very happy to present this grant to aid the Kentucky Derby Museum in its wonderful work to carry the story of that rich tradition of the ‘Run for the Roses’ to students in our region.”

The Kentucky Derby Museum is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Information on the museum is available on the Web at www.derbymuseum.org.

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.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will join Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum representatives for a news conference on Thursday, May 1, to introduce the artist that has been selected to create a permanent memorial honoring Barbaro.  The Kentucky Derby 132 winner died in January 2007 after a lengthy battle with laminitis. 

The memorial, a bronze sculpture, will be placed outside Churchill Downs’ Gate 1 along with Barbaro’s ashes sometime next year. The Jacksons, the artist and representatives of Churchill Downs will be available for comment, and a clay model of the sculpture will be available for photo and video opportunities. Additionally, the Jacksons and Museum officials will announce a national student art exhibition related to Barbaro’s memorial that will be hosted by the Museum.

The news conference will take place on Thursday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m. EDT in the Great Hall of the Kentucky Derby Museum. Following the news conference, the Jacksons will join Churchill Downs and Museum officials in unveiling a bronze marker that will identify the spot where Barbaro’s memorial will be installed in front of Gate 1.

        Churchill Downs will be open for racing on May 1, and media representatives coming to the track to cover the news conference should park in the Longfield Lot, enter Churchill Downs through Gate 10, and cross through the paddock area to Gate 1 and the main entrance to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Parking in Churchill Downs’ Lot 1 is also available to media with Lot 1 parking passes. Media representatives should wear their Kentucky Derby credentials in order to access Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum on May 1.

       <strong> NOTE:  This news conference is for credentialed media members ONLY and is not open to the general public.</strong>

        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 is set for 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.