racing news/

Tickets on Sale June 5 for 2010 Breeders' Cup
27/05/10

The Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs yesterday announced that tickets for this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Nov. 5-6, will go on sale at 12 p.m. (ET) Saturday, June 5.

It is the first time that Churchill Downs will host the event under the two-day Championship format, which began in 2007. Breeders’ Cup Championship Friday will begin at 2 p.m. ET and finish under the lights at approximately 7:30 p.m. with the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. Saturday’s card will begin at 12:05 p.m. and conclude with the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Fans will be able to purchase single day tickets for either Friday or Saturday programs or take advantage of bundled seating and dining packages for both days of the Championships.

"With the large, passionate base of racing fans in Kentucky and its magnificent facility, Churchill Downs is always one of the most popular venues for our Championships," said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli. "We're very excited to be running one of our premier races under the lights on Friday and to be staging two days of the finest racing in the world in our home state."

• All fans may register at www.breederscup.com/tickets to be eligible for the “Ticket Pre-Sale” and “VIP Sweepstakes.” The ticket pre-sale will be offered from May 31 through June 4. The VIP Sweepstakes will also close on June 4. All details can be found at breederscup.com/tickets.

• A variety of seat choices exist, with ticket prices on Championship Friday for Reserved Grandstand and Clubhouse ranging from $20-$75 and on Championship Saturday from $40-$150. There are also bundled two-day packages available for Reserved Grandstand, Clubhouse Box seating and Premium Dining areas (Skye Terrace and Millionaires Row).

• General Admission tickets will go on sale beginning October 5 for online purchase only. The online price for Championship Friday will be $10. General Admission online price on Championship Saturday is $20. Patrons will be able to print their tickets at home and bring them to the track for admission. General admission prices at the gate on Championship Friday will be $15 and $25 on Championship Saturday.

“Churchill Downs, residents of Metro Louisville and the entire region are anticipating the return of the Breeders’ Cup and our first opportunity to enjoy the Championships as a two-day event,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. “Much Breeders’ Cup history has been made beneath our track’s signature Twin Spires in its record six previous visits to Churchill Downs, and the running of the first Breeders’ Cup races under our new permanent lights on Friday will be another first-of-its-kind experience. We look forward to welcoming the world for a seventh time to the Breeders’ Cup Championships.”

Fans will be able to purchase tickets in two ways this year:

• Fans can go to the Web to www.breederscup.com/tickets to access the online ticket system by Seat Advisor Box Office (SABO), which allows purchasers to view seat locations and buy their tickets in a fast, efficient manner.

• Those without online access can purchase tickets by telephone by calling toll-free at (877) TIX-4CUP.

About Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, and the Breeders’ Cup Stakes Program, which will provide racetracks and horsemen nearly $4 million in purse enhancements this year. Total purses for this year’s two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 5-6, will be $26 million. The 2009 Breeders’ Cup delivered nearly $125 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and on YouTube.

About Churchill Downs

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, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2011. The track will conduct its 2009 Fall Meet from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 28. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on November 5 and 6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.