Churchill Downs, Flanery Featured on Food Network's Cupcake Wars

Jun 13, 2011 Darren Rogers

Food Network’s popular series, Cupcake Wars, will kick off their Season 3 premiere with an episode featuring Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. 

Churchill Downs racetrack president Kevin Flanery traveled to Los Angeles in mid-March to appear as the show’s guest judge and tasted more than 20 cupcakes in one day to help choose the challenge winner. The challenge, which will be revealed on the show, will showcase ingredients based around the traditions of the Kentucky Derby.

The episode’s winner attended the Kentucky Derby 137 on May 7 and served the award-winning cupcakes on the celebrity red carpet to stars from film, television and sports.

The Season 3 premiere of Cupcake Wars will air on Food Network on Tuesday, June 14 at 8 p.m. ET. 

About Cupcakes Wars

It’s cupcake vs. cupcake in Food Network’s tastiest competition yet! Each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one decorator remains. The sweet prize: $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Whether a special Ace of Cakes anniversary celebration, a star-studded magazine party or an A-list celebrity golf tournament, these Cupcakes Wars really heat up. Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week, and Justin Willman hosts.

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: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 138^th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2012. The track’s 2011 Spring Meet opened April 30 and continues through July 4. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record seven times and the event will return to the track for its next renewal on Nov. 4-5, 2011. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

-- END --