Twilight Thursday, Family Adventure Day Bookend Next-to-Last Week of Churchill Downs Spring Meet

Jun 22, 2016 John Asher

Tomorrow’s weekly celebration of Twilight Thursday and Sunday’s festive Family Adventure Day Presented by Kroger will serve as bookends for four days of racing and entertainment scheduled during the penultimate week of Churchill Downs Racetrack’s 38-day Spring Meet.

Along with live music, food trucks and drink specials available on the Plaza, Twilight Thursday’s resumption of live racing at the home of the Kentucky Derby will be highlighted by the ongoing and ever-growing carryover in the 20-cent minimum Single 6 Jackpot. The carryover pool in the wager has climbed to $622,389 and the wager begins with Thursday’s third race at 5:58 p.m. (all times EDT). Post time for the first of eight Twilight Thursday races is 5 p.m., and admission gates open at 4 p.m.

Live music on the Plaza Stage will be provided by 5Thousand1 (https://www.facebook.com/JivesMusic/?fref=ts) and fans can choose from offerings offered by a roster of the region’s finest food trucks that includes ¡Holy Molé!, Longshot Lobsta, Mark’s Feed Store, Red Top Gourmet Hot Dogs and Zoom Zoom Yum.

General admission to Churchill Downs on Twilight Thursday is $3.

Sunday’s second Family Adventure Day Presented by Kroger benefits the work of Kosair Children’s Hospital and offers a wide range of activities for kids that have made these special days the most popular family days at Churchill Downs. Family Adventure Day features pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting and stick horse races. Members of the Louisville City FC soccer team will be on hand for autographs and to meet fans and parents from 12-2 p.m.

Tickets for Sunday’s Family Adventure Day activities are $8 when purchased in advance and includes unlimited access to all of the day’s kid-friendly activities. Ticket options for the day include a Family Four Pack that includes four Family Adventure Day tickets, four family meals in the Adventure Day area and two racing programs – all for just $44.

Tickets for Churchill Downs racing are available at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets, and the Family Four Pack is available on the ticket page under the “special offers” option. The Family Four Pack is available only through advance purchase and will not be available onsite on Sunday.

Kosair Children’s Hospital will benefit from a donation of $1 for each Family Adventure Day ticket.

Other on-track festivities on Sunday include the popular new Stakes and Eggs Brunch. Sunday’s sumptuous Stakes and Eggs Brunch and day at the races is available for $45 for adults and $22 for children 12 & up. The Stakes and Eggs Brunch begins each Sunday with the opening of the Churchill Downs admission gates at 11:30 a.m.

Admission gates open at 11:30 a.m., and the first race on Family Adventure Day is set for 12:45 p.m.

Saturday’s Churchill Downs racing program is headed by the $67,000-added Roxelana Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares ages 3 and up at six furlongs. Admission gates will open for Saturday’s program of 11 live races at 11:30 a.m. General Admission is $3, reserved seating is $10 and reserved dining packages are $38.

The next-to-last Friday racing program on June 23 features nine races, with post time for the first race at 12:45 p.m. Admission gates open on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Like Saturday’s program, general admission is available on Friday for $3 and reserved seats start at $10.

After racing on Sunday, June 26, only three racing days will remain in Churchill Downs’ Spring Meet. Racing will resume on June 30 with the final Twilight Thursday event of the meet and concludes on Saturday, July 2 with a “Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Jack Daniel’s” night racing program. Event information and tickets for the July 2 “Downs After Dark” party are available on the Churchill Downs web site under Tickets.

Tickets are available online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets or by calling (502) 636-4450.