Post-Derby Spring Meet Racing Kicks-Off with Super Hi-5, Paddock Concert Series

May 09, 2012 John Asher

With the excitement of a record-breaking Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Weekend still present on its historic grounds, Churchill Downs kicks-off the remaining 32 days of its Spring Meet on Thursday, May 10 with a nine-race program that concludes with a Super-Hi 5 race with a carryover pool from Kentucky Derby Day of $276,914.

The carryover pool in the Super Hi-5 was created when no one correctly picked the first five finishers in the correct order in Kentucky Derby 138 won by Reddam Racing LLC’s I’ll Have Another on Saturday, May 5.  That gave race fans another chance to take swing at the Super Hi-5 on Thursday’s program, which begins with the first race at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).  The Super Hi-5 race is Thursday’s ninth event, with a scheduled post time of 4:59 p.m.

On Friday, May 11, Churchill Downs will launch both its Friday “Twilight Racing” programs and its 2012 Paddock Concert Series with a performance by Eric Lindell beneath the Twin Spires in the comfortable and intimate setting of the track’s paddock.  The Alligator Records recording artist will bring a unique blend of blues, R & B, funk and rock to the paddock stage following Friday’s races at approximately 8 p.m.

The first 850 people in attendance for the Eric Lindell (www.EricLindell.com) concert will be allowed free access to the paddock to watch the concert up close in a VIP viewing area.

Admission gates will open on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and post time for the first race will be 2:45 p.m. Happy Hour drink specials in the paddock garden area include a $3 Stella Artois Draft Beer from 4-7 p.m.

The Paddock Concert Series will continue through the month of May.  Scheduled performers include:

• Eric Lindell on Friday, May 11 (www.EricLindell.com)
• Citizen Cope on Friday, May 18 (www.CitizenCope.com)
• The Black Lillies on Friday, May 25 (www.TheBlackLillies.com)

The first post-Derby 138 weekend of racing during the Churchill Downs Spring Meet will have the traditional Mother’s Day celebration on Sunday, May 13 as its centerpiece.

A limited number of seats for Mother’s Day dining remain available in the Skye Terrace on the 6^th floor of the Clubhouse.  Seating for Mother’s Day Dining at Churchill Downs is $48 for adults and $28 for children and includes Levy Restaurants’ sumptuous Chef’s Table Buffet, track admission, seating and a racing program.

Jockey Club Suites remain available for Mother’s Day and other days during the meet, but seating in those suites must be reserved by Thursday for Sunday’s celebration.  Box seats remain available for purchase for the Mother’s Day program.

Sunday also launches the Spring Meet’s Family Fun Days, which include activities for children in the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Junior Jockey Club on Sundays throughout the meet.

Post time for the Saturday and Sunday racing programs at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m.  Admission gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Reservations for Mother’s Day dining at tickets for any day at Churchill Downs throughout the Spring Meet can be purchased through the track’s online box office at www.ChurchillDowns.com/tickets or by calling (502) 636-4400.

Hours for the on-track box office are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; noon-6 p.m. on Fridays; and noon-9 p.m. on “Downs After Dark” night racing Saturdays on June 2, June 16 (Stephen Foster Handicap) and June 30.