Churchill Downs News Release: Louisville-Based Dan-O's Seasoning to Elevate Thanksgiving Day Flavors at Churchill Downs

Nov 21, 2024

Thanksgiving Day at legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack has been a tasty Louisville tradition since 1969, and this year’s holiday extravaganza will be even more flavorful thanks to a partnership with Dan-O’s Seasoning.

 

Louisville-based Dan-O’s Seasoning – known for its catchy phrase “Yum Yum Get Ya Sum” – has played a significant role in enhancing the flavor of Churchill Downs menu items in 2024 – from Dan-O’s chips to cheeseburgers, baked potatoes, and now the Thanksgiving turkeys.

 

Around 7,500 turkey dinners will be served with all the trimmings in premium dining areas at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Day, making it the largest number anywhere in the region.

 

Each of this year’s 10-pound turkeys, which total 550 throughout the vast facility, will be seasoned with Dan-O’s Original Seasoning, a secret blend of mouth-watering herbs and spices with just the right among of sea salt. A total of 85 pounds of the savory all-purpose seasoning has been ordered to elevate the favors for the turkeys.

 

“We are thrilled to partner with Dan-O’s for this year’s Thanksgiving at the track,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack’s chef Robert Walter of Levy Restaurants. “Thanksgiving is all about flavor and tradition, and partnering with Dan-O’s Seasoning lets us bring both to the table in a way that’s delicious and unforgettable.”

 

Levy Restaurants chefs will begin to cook the Thanksgiving meal around 1 a.m. In addition to the turkeys, the menu consists of preparing approximately 6,000 pounds of spiral ham, 250 gallons of rosemary gravy, 5,000 pounds of mashed potatoes, 150 gallons of cranberry sauce and more than 900 pumpkin pies.

 

Guests onsite who don’t have reserved seats in premium dining areas can purchase a special Thanksgiving baked potato featuring Dan-O’s Seasoning at the barbecue concession stand on the second floor of the Clubhouse.

 

Gates open at 10 a.m. and the Chef Tables will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first of 12 races is 11:30 a.m. and the final race goes at 4:43 p.m. Two stakes races for fillies and mares will be run that day: the 109th running of the $400,000 Falls City (Grade III) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt and the 49th running of the $300,000 Cardinal (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

 

Tickets for the Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs can be purchased online at https://www.churchilldowns.com/day-at-the-races/.