Churchill Downs will start with 'Opening Night'

For the first time in track history, Churchill Downs will start its 2011

Spring Meet and Kentucky Derby Week in prime time. The first day of Churchill

Downs' 39-day Spring Meet on Saturday, April 30, will take place at night under

the lights with the first of 11 live races scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT). The

unique, first-time event is simply billed as "Opening Night."

"We created this new stand-alone event to help properly kickoff and celebrate

Kentucky Derby Week and the return of live racing to Churchill Downs for the

Spring Meet," Churchill Downs racetrack president Kevin Flanery said. "Over the

past two years, we've had exciting results by presenting special and unique

nighttime racing experiences for our core customers, casual patrons and

entertainment-seekers. This exciting new 'Opening Night' event is truly

Louisville's gala. The people of Louisville and the entire Kentuckiana region

love the Derby, they love to dress up and they love a good party. We intend to

deliver that to them."

Many of the elements that made the eight previous night racing programs at

Churchill Downs an on-track hit will be showcased with added twists. E! News

anchor Giuliana Rancic and her husband, first-year Apprentice winner Bill Rancic,

will be on hand for Red Carpet arrival interviews and to emcee the evening's

festivities. World-renowned DJ Clinton Sparks will spin tunes in the paddock and

perform his hit single "My Favorite DJ is." Also, Kentucky's born and raised

designer to the stars, Bradley Picklesimer, will set the mood with the evening's

décor. His design portfolio includes the Elton John Oscar Party and events for

Sharon and Ozzy Osborne, Barbara Streisand and Billie Jean King.

Local NBC affiliate WAVE-3 has planned a live one-hour broadcast around the

event from 9-10 p.m., and will televise two races, including the featured

$200,000-added The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial (G3) (Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.) -- the

final race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that could produce a starter in the

Run for the Roses on the following Saturday.

"The suggested wardrobe for 'Opening Night' is cocktail chic and fashionable

headwear, much like Oaks and Derby, is encouraged," said Casey Cook, Churchill

Downs' vice president of Brand Development and Marketing.

Churchill Downs successfully experimented with night racing in 2009 and

permanent lights were added to the 147-acre facility in 2010. Its eight

nighttime programs over the last two years -- the perfect blend of an upscale

night on the town with the excitement of Thoroughbred racing -- have essentially

tripled the on-track attendance and doubled the on-track wagering handle

compared to afternoon programs previously staged on those dates.

In addition to Opening Night, Churchill Downs will stage four "Downs After

Dark" night racing programs in 2011 -- three over the final three Fridays of the

Spring Meet on June 17, June 24 and July 1 and one date during the fall meet on

Friday, November 19.

A dramatic red glass chandelier structure will apex over the Aristides Garden

on Opening Night to give the Churchill Downs paddock area the look and feel of

an upscale night club. Also, there will be comfortable free-seating options,

specialty bars and food stations, colorful buntings, mood lighting, spotlights

and seasonal greenery.

There'll be Red Carpet entrances at Gates 10 and 17, plus paparazzi

photographers, Hollywood-style lights and DJs inside the gates to greet guests

when admission gates open at 4 p.m.

Music at the track will be showcased throughout the evening. To set the tone

for the party, musicians Off The Hook will perform on the paddock stage between

live races from 4-9 p.m. ET. Also, there will be music for VIP guests on the

Clubhouse "Bubble Balconies," a private party that will showcase champagne

cocktails and an atmosphere accented by bubble machines.

The party will elevate to new levels at 9 p.m. when world-renowned DJ Clinton

Sparks takes over turntable on the paddock stage until closing time at midnight.

Sparks is the E! News music correspondent; creator, host and DJ of the No.

1-rated worldwide syndicated terrestrial radio show "Smash Time Radio;" and host

and DJ of the "Sirius XM Shade 45 Satellite Radio" uncensored Hip Hop show of

the same name. He might be best known as the multi-platinum producer/songwriter

for Akon, Pitbull, Ludacris, Tyrese, Rick Ross, The Game, Bun B, Soulja Boy,

Leighton Meester, Plies, T-Pain and The Notorious B.I.G.

Cover charge (general admission) to Opening Night and all Downs After Dark

events is $10. Holders of shareholders passes or horsemen licenses, as well as

select Twin Spires Club members (Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze members only)

and children age 12 and under (when accompanied by an adult) will be admitted

free of charge.

Reserved ticket packages for Opening Night and all Spring Meet events are

available for purchase online at

Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com -- Churchill Downs' convenient online box office

platform. Customers also can call the Churchill Downs switchboard at (502)

636-4400.

Limited dining packages in Skye Terrace 6 remain available for $59.50 and

include a Chef Table dinner, a climate-controlled indoor reserved seat, viewing

balcony and an official program. Meanwhile, the outdoor third-floor box seats

are going fast. They are on sale for $20 and include general admission, a box

seat in the third-floor clubhouse and an official program.

Churchill Downs will be open early for simulcast wagering on the second floor

of the clubhouse on Opening Night. General admission will be its regular price

of $3 from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Gate 17.

Those attending Opening Night are encouraged to arrive early to secure

on-site parking and avoid traffic delays. All on-property parking lots will open

at 3 p.m. and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis (free in

the Longfield Avenue lot). Typically, all lots are filled to capacity by post

time for the second race. Churchill Downs will offer free parking and shuttle

service from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium starting at 4 p.m. There will be free

round-trip shuttle service throughout the evening with drop off and pick up at

Gate 1.

Following Opening Night, Churchill Downs will be dark Sunday, May 1, and

Monday, May 2. Kentucky Derby week racing will resume Tuesday, May 3, and

continue through Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday, May 7. Post time on May 3-5

will be 12:45 p.m. The first race on Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days will

be 10:30 a.m.

Night racing at Churchill Downs has been a spectacular success while

showcasing live racing with ancillary entertainment such as food, fashion, music

and parties. So far, more than 210,000 horseplayers and entertainment-seekers

have attended the eight special nighttime programs since June 2009. Just less

than 90,000 fans attended three "experimental" programs under temporary lights

in 2009, and an average of 27,139 attended four night racing programs under

permanent lights last spring.