Churchill Downs Presents Ladies Only Racing Clinic, Thursday, May 24

May 21, 2012

Half and Full Day Sessions Feature Wagering Advice and Thoroughbred Education From Two of Racing’s Leading Ladies, Jill Byrne and Donna Barton Brothers

Churchill Downs is welcoming women only to a special Ladies Racing Clinic on Thursday, May 24, hosted by renowned horse racing analyst and Churchill Downs handicapper Jill Byrne. One of the country’s leading female jockeys turned sports broadcaster and author, Donna Barton Brothers, will present the female perspective during her keynote address.

Ladies of all ages and experience at the track who want to learn more about the sport of Thoroughbred racing from the horses to handicapping, can choose from a full or half day session:

• Half Day – 8:00 a.m. – noon (ET) – includes the seminars only for $20.

Participants will enjoy an up close and personal experience covering various topics, including:

• The viewing of the horses exercising on the track
• Discussion about “Epic Fillies and Mares”
• An Insider’s View of Females in the Business
• Wagering Overview
• Keynote Address by Donna Barton Brothers

• Full Day -- 8:00 a.m. – 4:59 p.m. (ET – last post time of the day) – includes the morning sessions listed above, an afternoon at the races from a seat on Millionaires Row and a guided tour of the track for $50.

 Space is limited. Reservations are still available through Tuesday May 22 at www.ChurchillDowns.com/tickets/ladiesracingclinic.  All attendees receive a lovely lavender journal with a racing glossary on the first page.

Partial proceeds from the event will benefit the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, which provides humane treatment and shelter while working to find adoptive homes for all of Kentucky's unwanted equines.

Jill is a renowned horse racing analyst, the Director of On Air Communications and official handicapper at Churchill Downs. She is a regular contributor to HRTV's racing programs.  Along with her on-air skills and top-notch racing analysis, Byrne is an accomplished horsewoman who worked in the training and campaigns of 1997 Horse of the Year and juvenile champion Favorite Trick and Countess Diana, that year’s champion 2-year-old filly. She was also involved in the campaign of Awesome Again who defeated 1997 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Silver Charm to win the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs in 1998.

The daughter of pioneering female jockey Patti Barton, Donna Barton Brothers started her jockey career in 1987 and retired 11½ years later as the second leading money-earner of all time among female jockeys. Altogether, Barton won 1,171 races. In 2000, she began her second career as an NBC Sports on-track reporter, racing analyst and handicapper, covering such illustrious thoroughbred racing events as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup.  She is the author of Inside Track: Insider’s Guide to Horse Racing.