Churchill Downs Announces Expanded Public Drawing for Reserved Seats to 2009 Kentucky Derby

Nov 21, 2008 CDI Communications

Churchill Downs will soon make Kentucky Derby dreams come true for 500 horse racing fans, as the racetrack today announced an expanded public drawing for guests to purchase two seats to the upcoming 135th 'Run for the Roses,' scheduled for May 2, 2009.  [asset|text=Click here for complete rules.|aid=3657|format=link|height=128|width=128]

Beginning on Saturday, Nov. 22, and continuing each live race day through closing day, Nov. 29, Churchill Downs will hold live drawings for reserved seats to Kentucky Derby 135.  Churchill Downs' guests will have one chance each day, for six days, to have their names drawn for the opportunity to purchase the reserved seats.  A total of 500 pairs of tickets, or 1,000 in total, will be made available for the public drawing.

'Our goal in creating the public drawing for the right to purchase reserved seats to the Kentucky Derby two years ago was to allow an even broader audience to enjoy America's premier horse race first-hand, especially racing fans from Louisville and neighboring communities who support Churchill Downs on a year-round basis,' said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs and executive vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated.  'Setting aside reserved seats for the general public to purchase gives our fans added opportunities to personally experience the excitement and energy of the first Saturday in May.  This year, we wanted to expand the ways in which customers can become eligible for a chance to purchase tickets, and we believe this new format will allow even more opportunity for our guests to enjoy the ‘Run for the Roses' with us in 2009.'

Churchill Downs' guests may enter each daily drawing by filling out an entry form with their contact information at Guest Services stations located inside Gate 17 or outside of Gate 10 in the clubhouse.  Entries must be completed and turned in to the Guest Services stations between the time gates open (11 a.m. EST on Nov. 22, 23, and 26, and 10 a.m. EST on Nov. 27-29) by 1:35 p.m. EST in order to be eligible for that day's drawing.  Individuals who wish to enter the drawing without paying an admission charge may do so at the Gate 10 Guest Services station, which is located outside of the Gate 10 admission booths.  Entries must be received by 1:35 p.m. in order to be eligible for that day's drawing.  No late entries will be admitted into the drawing.  Guests who miss the 1:35 p.m. deadline to enter may try again on the next racing day until Saturday, Nov. 29, closing day of the 2008 Fall Meet.

Entry forms are good for one drawing only.  For multiple chances to be selected, guests must visit on multiple days to complete a new entry form at each visit.

Following the fourth race (approximately 2 p.m.) on Nov. 22, 23 and 26 and following the sixth race on Nov. 27-29, Churchill Downs will draw from all eligible entries and announce over the public address system the names of those who have won the right to purchase two tickets to Kentucky Derby 135.  A total of 50 names will be drawn on Nov. 22 and 23, while 100 names will be drawn daily from Wednesday, Nov. 26, through closing day, Saturday, Nov. 29.  Winners will be announced after every race through the end of the race card.

Winners who are present should proceed to the Guest Services station at Gate 17 no later than 5 p.m., where they will be allowed to personally draw for their Kentucky Derby 135 reserved seats.  For winners who are not present by 5 p.m., a Churchill Downs guest services representative will draw on their behalf. 

All winners will be notified by Churchill Downs and will automatically be invoiced using the information provided on the entry form.  Payment for invoiced tickets will be due to Churchill Downs no later than Jan. 30, 2009.  No tickets will be distributed to winners until payment has been received in full.

Guests are eligible to enter once daily, and they may only win once for the duration of the contest.  Winners' names will be entered into Churchill Downs' records for Kentucky Derby 135 reserved seats.  Once an individual's name has been selected, that guest WILL NOT be eligible to enter the drawing again.

The seats available include a variety of clubhouse and grandstand seats, ranging from grandstand bleacher seats to clubhouse boxes.  The ticket prices per seat range from $88 to $207 ($176 to $414 per pair).  Seats will only be made available in pairs and cannot be purchased individually.

Customers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the public drawing.  Employees of Churchill Downs Incorporated, Levy Restaurants and Brantley Services are not eligible to participate.

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 runs from October 26 through November 29. 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.