Registration open for 'Road to the Roses' Fantasy Challenge

Churchill Downs' "Road to the Roses" Kentucky Derby Fantasy Challenge

presented by WinStar Farm is back. The free online contest that allows racing

fans to manage a stable of Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders during the three-month

buildup to the $2 million Kentucky Derby is now open for registration.

Located at www.RoadToTheRoses.com,

the game's grand prize winner will receive a VIP trip for two to the 138th

running of the Kentucky Derby in 2012, which has an estimated retail value of

$5,000.

"Road to the Roses" players earn points based on how well their fantasy

stable performs in a series of Kentucky Derby prep races, beginning with the

Fountain of Youth (G2), Hutcheson (G2) and Borderland Derby on Saturday,

February 26, and continuing through the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7.

Each player can create up to three fantasy stables by selecting 10 horses

from the complete list of Triple Crown nominees, as well as two trainers and two

jockeys. All horses in the stable will remain active and eligible to earn points

throughout the duration of the game. Participants also will be able to designate

five "power" horses which will earn double points in they finish first, second

or third in prep races. Players may change their designated "power" horses to

maximize scoring opportunities as many times as they wish, except on scoring

race days.

In addition, stables have the ability to add five additional Triple Crown

nominated horses later in the season:  three more horses starting March 21

and two others on April 18. In years past, there were brief supplemental draft

periods, but now participants can add the extra horses to their stable through

April 30 – the week before the Derby.

The player who earns the most points at the end of the "Road to the Roses"

Kentucky Derby Fantasy Challenge presented by WinStar Farm will receive a VIP

trip for two to the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, including airfare and

accommodations, a VIP tour of WinStar Farm on Thursday of Derby Week, a private

backstretch tour on Kentucky Oaks Day, a trip to the paddock on Kentucky Derby

Day, a $1,000 betting voucher, a limited edition gold-leafed Kentucky Derby mint

julep glass, a Kentucky Derby jacket and official Kentucky Derby print.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 25 finishers, plus Stage 1 (through March

21), Stage 2 (through April 18) and weekly winners.

A popular returning element is the ability to create your own league to

compete against friends and co-workers. Theoretically, if a stable is far

removed from first place in the overall standings, they could still be in the

hunt for top honors and bragging rights within their own league. A private,

league-only chat room has been added to the mix for trash-talking.

Also, Brisnet.com and its roster of horse racing experts once again will host

weekly online question and answer "Derby Chat" sessions every Friday between 7-9

p.m. (ET) to discuss the prospects of the most promising three-year-old

Thoroughbreds on "The Road to the Roses."

For more information, official rules and a complete list of prizes for the

"Road to the Roses" Kentucky Derby Fantasy Challenge presented by WinStar Farm,

visit the Web site RoadToTheRoses.com or the game's Facebook page at

Facebook.com/RoadToTheRoses.