Churchill Downs Unveils Web Site

Jun 17, 2011 Jennifer Stevens

Racing resumes under the Twin Spires on Saturday, April 26, and Churchill Downs’ official Web site is keeping pace with a new look and expanded features for the 2008 season. The redesigned Web site is available at www.churchilldowns.com.

Highlighting the new features of the Web site is an expanded information archive divided into four convenient categories based on the visitor’s preference — Visit Us for out-of-town guests or newer fans, Racing for on-track information, Top Stories for the latest news, and Horsemen for condition books, claims, workout times and much more. The site is easily navigated between sections using tabs at the top of each page.

The new www.churchilldowns.com also includes expanded video features designed to complement daily news and on-track activity, as well as exclusive analysis videos, interviews, and links to an online race replay archive at www.youtube.com/cdi. Content from www.brisnet.com has also been integrated into Churchill’s “virtual tote board,” which allows up-to-the-minute racing information with www.twinspires.com technology built in for instant wagering opportunities. At the heart of the redesign is a clean, fresh look that presents Churchill’s news and racing information in an easy-to-read fashion, and includes hundreds of images from the track’s vast photography archives.

“We’re delighted to offer this redesigned Web site to Churchill fans just in time for the 2008 racing season,” said Jeremy Borseth, senior director of channel services and Internet operations for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Churchilldowns.com has always been a huge information repository and an excellent online resource, so we’ve focused on giving our visitors an outstanding experience through a fresh new design that allows for easier navigation and a smooth, user-friendly online experience. We hope that our fans will take some time to explore the new offerings on the site and enjoy a virtual look at our historic track.”

Other new features on the redesigned www.churchilldowns.com include a special area dedicated to simulcasting information, an expanded events calendar, blogs, and new “QuickLinks” technology, which enables a visitor to create a list of his or her own favorite pages, bookmark-style, on the homepage of the Churchill Web site itself. The site’s home page also “remembers” what content a visitor has recently looked at and will automatically present similar content upon subsequent visits to the Web site. New sections will debut in the coming weeks, including social networking links, widgets, mobile features, and the ability for visitors to share handicapping information and wagering tips.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack stargames online, 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.