Churchill unveils special themes for 'Downs After Dark'

When the wildly popular "Downs After Dark" nighttime racing programs return

to Churchill Downs in earnest on June 11, there'll be a new twist: each of the

six evening extravaganzas will have a primary theme, beginning with "Disco at

the Downs."

Downs After Dark, which attracted an average of nearly 30,000 fans during its

three-date market test in 2009, will be staged on the final four Fridays of the

42-day spring meet. Also, there are two dates scheduled for later in the year,

including opening night of the 20-day fall meet which doubles as Halloween.

"Disco at the Downs" on June 11 will be a celebration of the 1970s, complete

with disco balls and dance competitions throughout the vast Churchill Downs

facility. On-track customers will be encouraged to join in the revelry and dress

in their favorite '70s garb.

The '70s celebration will continue into June 12 when Kentucky Derby (G1)

Alumni Day returns for the Stephen Foster Day program with a salute to the Derby

winners from that decade, including Triple Crown winners Secretariat (1973),

Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).

Downs After Dark also will have themed celebrations around the Fourth of July

and Halloween. The July 2 program is dubbed "An American Party: Boots, Brew &

BBQ," which will have a country/Americana ambiance with a regional beer garden

and street party feel to kick-start the holiday weekend. On Sunday, October 31,

Churchill Downs will kick off its fall meet and the start of Breeders' Cup World

Championships week with a "Spirits & Spires" Halloween costume party.

The other three Downs After Dark events will have a "South Beach" (June 18),

"Dress to Impress" (June 25) and "Home for the Holidays" (November 19) flavor.

The first race for each Downs After Dark program during the spring meet will

be 6 p.m. (ET), while the two fall meet programs will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Admission gates will open two hours before the first live race.

Cover charge (general admission) to all Downs After Dark events is $10.

Holders of shareholders or horsemen passes, 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. (Note:

season passes are not valid for Downs After Dark events).

A special discounted general admission pass for entrance on all six nights is

available for $45 (a $15 savings).

Customers also have the opportunity to purchase a special $20 package that

includes general admission, a box seat in the third-floor clubhouse and an

official program.

Additionally, Downs After Dark packages in Millionaires Row are available for

$59.90 and include a reserved seat in Millionaires Row, an official program,

buffet dinner and live entertainment from 4-7 p.m.

A one-time-only "Dinner by Design" package is available for the June 11

debut. For $100, guests will enjoy a five-course dinner with premium wine

pairings developed by Levy Restaurants' Chef Jo-Jo Doyle and a special

Louisville guest chef in the Stakes and Aristides Rooms on the fourth floor of

the Clubhouse.

All reserved ticket packages are available for purchase online at

tickets.churchilldowns.com -- Churchill Downs' new and convenient online box

office platform.

For three nights last spring, Churchill Downs was transformed into

Louisville's ultimate nighttime hot spot with nearly 90,000 fans in attendance

for racing under the stars. Churchill Downs hosted night racing events under

temporary lights on June 19, June 26 and July. The average attendance was 29,705

and the three-night total was 89,115. A modern day track record of 33,481

attended the finale on July 2, the largest crowd for a Churchill Downs racing

program other than a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks (G1) or Breeders' Cup. It

topped the old mark of 28,396 for a pre-simulcast wagering era million-dollar

Pick 6 carryover on November 14, 1987.

The event's overwhelming popularity helped signal the go-ahead for Churchill

Downs Inc. to invest between $3 million and $4 million in permanent lighting.

Downs After Dark combined live Thoroughbred racing with subtle facility

changes and abundant ancillary activities that helped create a special and

festive atmosphere in an evening setting under the stars. Food, fashion, music,

parties and entertainment were showcased elements that added to the merrymaking.

To set the tone for the party, there will be "Happy Hours" from 4-6 p.m. in

the paddock area featuring $2 Anheuser Busch products other discounted food and

drink offerings. There also will be live music until 9 p.m. The revelry will go

to new levels late in the night when internationally renowned VJ 2ndNature will

mixed sounds of modern rock, pop and hip-hop from 9 p.m. to midnight. All the

while, there will be private VIP "Party Zones" on the Clubhouse and Jockey Club

Suites balconies with guests dancing to live music, as well.

Other ancillary activities will include entertainment and interviews on the

infield video boards and the popular sweepstakes promotion called "Bet or No

Bet" that randomly asks fans to take $100 in cash or place a free $1,000 win bet

on a horse in the upcoming race.

For more information, call (502) 636-4400 or log onto www.churchilldowns.com.