Churchill Downs to Give Away $10,000 in College Scholarships, Free Admission to Full-Time Students on Friday, Nov. 6

Nov 03, 2009 Darren Rogers

Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association will host their annual “College Scholarship Day” at the historic home of the Kentucky Derby on Friday, Nov. 6. A total of $10,000 in college scholarships will be given away that day to randomly drawn students between live races.

Also, all full-time college, university or trade school students will receive free general admission to Churchill Downs with a valid student identification card. The first 500 students through the turnstiles, which open at 11:30 a.m. ET, will be given a free Churchill Downs’ official “Lucky Shirt”, courtesy of Gray’s College Bookstore. The first of 10 live races Friday is 12:40 p.m. ET.

Once through admission gates, students will be directed to a registration tent near the saddling paddock to enter the prize drawings. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded after each of the 10 live races. Any full-time student whose name is fortunate to be drawn must be present to win, and there is a limit of one scholarship per student.

“College Scholarship Day” coincides with the Fall Meet’s first of three “Dress to Impress” Friday Happy Hours events and a simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Santa Anita.

Extended “Dress to Impress” Friday Happy Hours, sponsored by Budweiser Select, will be featured every Friday in the newly refurbished Paddock Pavilion from 3-6 p.m. through Nov. 20. The cozy indoor location, conveniently situated adjacent to the saddling paddock, will feature $2 Budweiser Select, a special $2 warm drink offering for adults and hip music provided by a deejay: Ryan Cox (Nov. 6), LadyKillers (Nov. 13) and K-Dogg (Nov. 20). Additional $2 specials, including hot dogs, popcorn and sodas, will also be available in the track’s Upper Jockey Club.

The first of nine simulcast races from Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Friday, Nov. 6 is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. with the first of six consecutive Breeders’ Cup events scheduled to commence with Santa Anita’s third race at 3:35 p.m. ET. The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic concludes the Breeders’ Cup parade with Race 8 at 6:45 p.m. ET. Additionally, Churchill Downs will offer advance wagering all day Friday on the Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday program from Santa Anita.

    Churchill Downs’ 120th Fall Meet, featuring world-class horse racing, continues its 21-day run through Saturday, Nov. 28. General admission is $3, but only $1 for senior citizens and members of the track’s free-to-join Twin Spires Club. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free in the Longfield Avenue lot (Gates 10 & 12) and $3 in all other lots. Valet parking is $5. For more information or to reserve seats, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.

    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 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010. The track will conduct its 2009 Fall Meet from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 28. 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.

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