Louisville, Ky. (Sep. 28, 2009) – Churchill Downs Incorporated announced today it will install permanent lights at Churchill Downs Racetrack, home of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. This decision follows careful review of the Churchill Downs’ Spring Meet night racing experiment.
Churchill Downs held its first-ever night racing events on June 19, June 26 and July 2, 2009. The average attendance each of the three nights was 29,705 with 33,481 in attendance the final evening, bringing the total attendance for the three nights of racing to 89,115.
“We found our racing fans loved the experience and Churchill Downs is trying new ideas to bring different types of fans to our iconic track, home of the Kentucky Derby,” said Kevin Flanery, Churchill Downs’ Track President. “The Company plans to invest in racing’s future despite the troubled economy and reduced handle throughout the industry,” continued Flanery.
Churchill Downs will be soliciting bids from a range of lighting contractors and anticipates installation to be complete in time for the 2010 Spring Meet. Flanery indicated Churchill Downs will poll fans and horsemen to assist in determining the optimum mix of day and night racing.
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. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010. The track’s 2009 Fall Meet is scheduled for Nov.1-28. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times, and will host the international racing championship again on Nov. 5-6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.
Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or “Company”), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates world-renowned horse racing venues throughout the United States. CDI’s four racetracks in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Louisiana host many of North America’s most prestigious races, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Arlington Million, Princess Rooney Handicap and Louisiana Derby. CDI’s racetracks have hosted seven Breeders’ Cup World Championships. CDI also owns off-track betting facilities and has interests in various advance-deposit wagering, television production, telecommunications and racing services companies including a 50-percent interest in the national cable and satellite network HorseRacing TV, that support the Company’s network of simulcasting and racing operations. CDI trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found on the Internet: www.ChurchillDownsIncorporated.com
