New Road to the Kentucky Derby Video Series Provides a Behind the Scenes Look at the People and Horses Making Their Way to the 140th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, KY--(Marketwired - March 24, 2014) - Churchill Downs® is offering online and social media fans an inside and up-close look at the top stories of the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, its star horses and the people behind them through a new series of videos available on the Kentucky Derby Channel on YouTube -- and one lucky viewer will win a trip for two to the 2015 running of America's greatest race.

The video series celebrates the 2014 Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com, the point system that determines the eligibility of horses to compete in the maximum field of 20 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that will enter the starting gate for the big race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3. Along with the Road to the Kentucky Derby videos hosted by Churchill Downs racing analyst Jill Byrne, visitors to the Kentucky Derby channel at www.youtube.com/user/kentuckyderby can also enjoy videos of past runnings of the Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks, other related content and an opportunity to win that dream trip to next year's "Run for the Roses."

As part of the celebration of the official launch of the gripping and colorful video series on the YouTube channel, Churchill Downs will kick off the Road to the Kentucky Derby Giveaway, which will award one lucky prize winner a trip for two to the Louisville track for the 2015 running of the Derby.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com, now in its second year, is a series of 34 prep races in which horses can pick up points through a top-four finish that count toward their eligibility to run in the classic American race. The series began in September and is now in its Championship Series phase, with several of its races in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby awarding 100 points and a guaranteed spot in the Derby starting gate to their winners.

"The compelling stories offered by the Road to the Kentucky Derby video series provides a wonderful opportunity for fans to get to know some of the most fascinating horses and people that are part of this year's Kentucky Derby drama and easily share those stories with friends and family through social media," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "The Kentucky Derby is special in so many ways, and spectacular images and compelling stories offered in the Road to the Kentucky Derby video series will help viewers and fans take their Derby experience to new levels."

The 2014 Road to the Kentucky Derby video series launches today with five Byrne-hosted videos spotlighting focused on recent Derby prep races and racing stars who have emerged in those events. Additional videos will be added in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby as the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series nears its climactic finish with the determination of the field for this year's Derby.

"There is no sport that offers a better combination of color, beauty and unique personalities than Thoroughbred racing, and the dream of every person in our sport is to win the Kentucky Derby," said Byrne, the daughter of a trainer who has spent most of her life in racing. "The lives and stories of people who care for these beautiful and talented horses are endlessly fascinating, but few fans get the opportunity experience that part of the racing world first-hand. I'm excited because the Road to the Kentucky Derby series delivers them behind the scenes to experience the beauty, drama and emotion that are part of the 'Derby Dream' and the quest to earn an opportunity for a young horse to compete in the biggest race of them all."

The Road to the Kentucky Derby video series launches with a series introduction and five initial episodes on the Kentucky Derby YouTube Channel and more will be added regularly. Videos currently available include:

Kentucky Derby 140: Road to the Kentucky Derby Introduction
Kentucky Derby 140: Ep. 1 - Breeders' Cup 2013 at Santa Anita
Kentucky Derby 140: Ep. 2 - Hollywood Parties and Powerful Ponies
Kentucky Derby 140: Ep. 3 - Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of Jockey Mike Smith
Kentucky Derby 140: Ep. 4 - Overcoming Katrina to make it to the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby 140: Ep. 5 - 3-year-old taking a 76-year-old to the Kentucky Derby

Win a Free Trip to the 2015 Kentucky Derby

Fans following the Road to Kentucky Derby video series on YouTube can enter to win a free trip to the 2015 Kentucky Derby by participating in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Giveaway at www.KentuckyDerby.com/giveaway. Fans can enter by visiting the Kentucky Derby Channel on YouTube and start with Episode 5 to find a special entry code that can be used to enter the contest. Each new video added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series on the YouTube channel will include a new entry code, which will allow fans to enter multiple times.

Fans can also earn additional contest entry codes by following the Kentucky Derby via social media and email. Entry codes will be given out on the Kentucky Derby's Facebook page, Twitter (@KentuckyDerby), Pinterest, Instagram and email. Fans can sign up or the latter at www.KentuckyDerby.com/signups. Each separate contest code is good for one contest entry. For more information on the contest, go to www.KentuckyDerby.com/giveaway.

Seven Championship Series Races Remaining

As of March 24, There are seven races remaining in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, including Florida Derby, March 29 at Gulfstream Park (FL); UAE Derby, March 29 at Meydan (Dubai, EAU); Louisiana Derby, March 29 at Fair Grounds (LA); Santa Anita Derby, April 5 at Santa Anita Park (CA); Wood Memorial, April 5 at Aqueduct (NY); Arkansas Derby, April 12 at Oaklawn Park (AR); Bluegrass, April 12 at Keeneland (KY); and one wildcard race, the Lexington, April 19 at Keeneland.

About Churchill Downs Racetrack

Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 140thrunning of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2012, and its Spring Meet is scheduled for April 26-June 29. The track has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

About the Road to the Kentucky Derby

Established in 2013, The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a qualifying point system for the 2013 Kentucky Derby featuring 34 stakes races overall, with the most important being the 16 marquee events for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the final 10 weeks leading up to the first Saturday in May known as the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. The top 20 horses with the most points will be eligible for a maximum field of 20 horses that will compete in the 140thrunning the of America's greatest race on Saturday, May 3.

RELATED LINKS:

www.kentuckyderby.com
www.kentuckyderby.com/road
www.KentuckyDerby.com/giveaway
www.kentuckyderby.com/media
www.KentuckyDerby.com/signups
www.churchilldowns.com

The following files are available for download:

• News Release: Churchill Downs introduced Road to the Kentucky Derby Video Series