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Hunter Rankin Named Churchill Downs’ Senior Director Of Racing

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday that Hunter Rankin has been hired as Senior Director of Racing for the Company. The role was recently vacated following Mike Ziegler's promotion to General Manager of Churchill Downs Racetrack in December 2020.

As CDI's Senior Director of Racing, Rankin will act as a representative and liaison to the U.S. Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and champion Company initiatives aimed at supporting and enhancing the racing and breeding landscape. He will focus on the implementation of standards and processes outlined in the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (“HISA”) across all of the Company's racing properties while representing CDI's interests as an advocate for important issues and policies within the racing and breeding industry.

“Hunter brings to this role a breadth of relationships he has developed with key stakeholder groups within the racing and breeding industries,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “His keen familiarity with HISA will help lead the Company and its racing assets into a successful future within a continuously-changing and evolving industry.”

Prior to this role, Rankin was the President of Sagamore Farm where he oversaw all farm and Sagamore Racing operations while also building Sagamore Farm as a hospitality asset. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Sagamore Development (now known as Weller Development) and as a Partner at Sterling Thompson Company where he managed commercial insurance profiles for large real estate, construction and equine businesses.

Rankin holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is the son of R. Alex Rankin, chairman of the board of Churchill Downs Inc.

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Churchill Downs To Sell Arlington Park, Pursue Relocation Of Racing License

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday that it has launched a process to sell the 326 acres in Arlington Heights, Ill. that are currently the home of Arlington International Racecourse. CBRE will bring the redevelopment opportunity to market on behalf of CDI.

CDI is committed to running Arlington's 2021 race dates from April 30 – Sept. 25, and does not expect any sale of the Arlington site to close prior to the conclusion of Arlington's 2021 race meet or that the conduct of the sale process will impact Arlington's racing operations this year.

“Arlington's ideal location in Chicago's northwest suburbs, together with direct access to downtown Chicago via an on-site Metra rail station, presents a unique redevelopment opportunity. We expect to see robust interest in the site and look forward to working with potential buyers, in collaboration with the Village of Arlington Heights, to transition this storied location to its next phase,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI.

“In the meantime, we are very committed to pursuing the relocation of Arlington's racing license to another community in the Chicagoland area or elsewhere in the state. We are exploring potential options with the State and other constituents and remain optimistic that we can find solutions that work for the State, local communities and the thousands of Illinoisans who make their living directly or indirectly from thoroughbred horse racing. We are committed to the Illinois thoroughbred racing industry and will consider all options in working toward opportunities for it to continue into the future.”

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Churchill: Kentucky Derby Week, Spring Meet Tickets Now On Sale

Tickets to Churchill Downs Racetrack for Kentucky Derby Week events are on sale now at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/2021-derby-week-tickets.

“Kentucky Derby Week represents a time of fun and excitement and our team is working diligently to create and deliver the best customer experience possible as we do every year,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “We'll continue to rely on proven health and safety protocols and operate within the guidance of state health officials as well as the CDC.

“We previously reported that we are starting with the assumption that we will limit the number of reserved seats to 40 to 50 percent capacity and delay the sale of general admission tickets. If the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 continue to improve, then we will open more reserved seats and consider the sale of general admission tickets.”

Guests with contractual seating, such as personal seat licenses, memberships and annual tickets, and those who received refunds in 2020, will have rights to first refusal for the 147^th runnings of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 1, and the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30.

There is no online sale planned for first-party reserved seating at this time. However, contractual guests with tickets who are unable to attend the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks or other events can utilize the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange, the official fan-to-fan resale marketplace and only authorized resale platform, to resell tickets. The Official Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange allows guests to resell tickets, charge face value or above and guarantee authenticity through Ticketmaster verified tickets.

Notification of the availability of additional tickets to Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be made by way of email and social media. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the Kentucky Derby's email distribution list online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/newsletter-signup and follow @KentuckyDerby on social media to stay updated on if or when there are changes to ticket availability.

Those interested in attending Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks can also visit Derby Experiences, the Kentucky Derby's Official Experience Package Partner, to explore a variety of packages combining Derby and Oaks seats with access to exclusive lounges, VIP Fast Access passes, hotel and transportation accommodations and more. Information is available online at www.derbyexperiences.com/kentucky-derby-2021.

Churchill Downs ticket options are available for other popular Derby Week events: Opening Night presented by Budweiser (Saturday, April 24); Dawn at the Downs (Sunday, April 25 and Monday, April 26); Champions Day presented by TwinSpires (Tuesday, April 27); and Thurby presented by Old Forester (Thursday, April 29).

In addition to Kentucky Derby Week, tickets are on sale for the entire 2021 Spring Meet, which covers 38 dates from Saturday, April 24 through Saturday, June 26.

Notable Spring Meet events and dates include Twilight Thursdays (Thursdays, May 6-June 24); Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9); Preakness Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, May 15); Sunday Brunch (Sundays, May 16-June 20); Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser (Saturdays, May 22 and June 12); Stephen Foster Preview Day (Saturday, May 29); Memorial Day (Monday, May 31); Teacher Appreciation Day (Thursday, June 3); Belmont Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, June 5); Flag Day Observance (Sunday, June 13); Father's Day (Sunday, June 20); and Stephen Foster Day/Closing Day (Saturday, June 26).

Information regarding Churchill Downs' Health & Safety plan for Kentucky Derby 2021 can be found at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/ticket-options/updates.

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Early Nominations To Kentucky Oaks, Old Forester Turf Classic Due Saturday

Early nominations for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks and $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1), held annually on Kentucky Derby Weekend at Churchill Downs, are due Saturday, Feb. 13.

Early nominations to the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30 – the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies – cost $200. A payment of $100 must be paid to become eligible for the 1 1/8-mile Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, which annually attracts top older grass stars and is run immediately prior to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday, May 1.

Owners and trainers can nominate horses by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 636-3806. Stakes nomination forms are available online: https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nomination-forms/.

A late nomination period, for both the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic will run through Sunday, April 10. The late nomination fee to the Oaks is $1,500 and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is $1,000

For more information, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/.

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