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Digital Age Faces Off With Colonel Liam In Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic

Klaravich Stables' defending champion Digital Age and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Colonel Liam headline a field of nine older runners entered Tuesday for Saturday's 35th running of the $1,000,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile grass test will go as the 11th race on Saturday's 14-race Kentucky Derby Day program with a 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post time Saturday is 10:30 a.m.

Trained by Chad Brown, Digital Age will be attempting to join Divisidero (2016-2017), Wise Dan (2013-2014) and Einstein (BRZ) (2008-2009) as a back-to-back winner of the Turf Classic.

Digital Age, who also won the American Turf (G2) here in 2019 in his only other start at Churchill Downs, will be ridden by Javier Castellano and exit post six.

Brown will saddle another Klaravich runner in Domestic Spending.

A winner of four of five career starts, Domestic Spending will be making his first start since taking the Hollywood Derby (G1) over Thanksgiving weekend last fall at Del Mar. Flavien Prat has the mount and will exit post five.

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam has won his past three starts on the grass, following his victory in the Pegasus with a score in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Colonel Liam will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post three.

The field for the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

Masteroffoxhounds (Joel Rosario, 120 pounds)
Count Again (Luis Saez, 120)
Colonel Liam (Irad Ortiz Jr., 124)
Ivar (Joe Talamo, 122)
Domestic Spending (Flavien Prat, 124)
Digital Age (Javier Castellano, 120)
Smooth Like Strait (Umberto Rispoli, 120)
Cross Border (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120)
Ride a Comet (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)

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Breeders’ Cup Launches Free Online Kentucky Derby Contest

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious international events, launched a new fan contest tied to the 147th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 1. Now live at BreedersCup.com/Derby, the digital campaign grants fans the chance to win $5,000 if they select the Kentucky Derby winning horse.

“The Kentucky Derby is an American tradition and we are excited to provide fans another reason to tune-in to NBC on Saturday,” said Breeders' Cup Senior Vice President of Marketing Justin McDonald. “This year's Run for the Roses will feature the top three finishers from the 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and this free-to-play contest is the perfect way to further engage with racing fans while also building anticipation for the upcoming Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and ultimately the World Championships later this fall.”

Open until 6:55 PM ET on May 1, the contest invites fans to select the horse they believe will win the Kentucky Derby and don the blanket of roses. To enter the contest, fans must visit BreedersCup.com/Derby, click on their favorite horse and complete the registration process. Out of the pool of fans who correctly choose the winning horse, one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a grand prize of $5,000.

To enter the free contest fans must be a resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) and eighteen years of age or older. The winner of the contest will be announced on or before May 5.

The 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif.

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Indiana Grand Ready To Break Ground On $7 Million Barn, Dormitory Expansion

Caesars Entertainment, parent company of Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville, IN, announced plans Tuesday to significantly expand the property's barn and dormitory facilities. The addition will allow for more flexibility and state-of-the-art offerings as the 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing approaches.

The $7 million investment project will include a new 100-stall barn and a 50-room dormitory, increasing stall space on the backstretch to accommodate nearly 1,200 horses. News of this expansion comes on the heels of Indiana Grand's recent announcement of its $32.5 million investment to grow and enhance the existing casino gaming floor. The barn and dormitory project should be completed in the fall of 2021.

“Each year, we turn many stables away because we just don't have the stall space for them,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. “As our racing continues to grow at the national level, we receive even more requests to race at our facility. This addition will further solidify Indiana Grand's as a premier racing destination.”

The new 100-stall barn, modeled after the Quarter Horse barn, built in 2014 at Indiana Grand, will be enclosed and winterized with three large sliding doors on both sides of the barn. The structure will include 10 wash bays, two restrooms and 10 tack rooms.

The dormitory will include 50 additional rooms in a two-story structure next to the new barn. The facility will provide housing for those who care for the additional horses, featuring community bathrooms for both men and women, central air and heat, and a laundry facility on both floors. Both structures will be located on the west side of the current backstretch area.

“Adding another barn will only strengthen our current program at Indiana Grand and build upon Caesars Entertainment's growing position as a leader in sports and entertainment,” said Joseph Morris, Vice President of Racing for Caesars Entertainment. “This project is another example of how Caesars Entertainment is investing in the horse racing industry in the state of Indiana.”

Work should begin in early May on the project. The construction site will be fenced off from the existing barn area to provide safety and security to the current horse population at Indiana Grand.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Monday, Nov. 8. Live racing will be conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. In addition, six all-Quarter Horse racing dates are set on select Saturdays starting June 5 at 10 a.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Churchill Downs Partners With ‘Mattress Mack’ To Host Kentucky Derby Foster Family Initiative

Churchill Downs Racetrack announced today a new partnership with Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale that will welcome nearly 300 representatives from Kentucky's foster care sector as guests to the Kentucky Derby.

The first-ever Kentucky Derby Foster Family Initiative connects McIngvale's passion for the life-changing work made possible through the foster care system with Churchill Downs' Louisville nonprofit partners, Maryhurst and Boys & Girls Haven, who locally provide those social services.

McIngvale is a native of Texas and is well-known for using his high-stakes bets on sports as creative marketing promotions for his Houston-based mattress and furniture store, Gallery Furniture. His commitment to foster care work was inspired by his recently-adopted grandson, Brodie, in June 2019. His daughter Laura McIngvale Brown and her husband Phil Brown officially welcomed Brodie into their family after serving as foster parents.

“I have seen firsthand the importance of foster care and Brodie has been a true joy in my life,” McIngvale shared. “I'm thrilled to partner through Churchill Downs with these Louisville nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to help children and families thrive. I couldn't be happier to help provide them the opportunity to enjoy this year's Kentucky Derby.”

Churchill Downs will be working with long-time charitable partners Maryhurst and Boys & Girls Haven to identify foster parents, alumni and social service workers and staff in the industry to host for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.

“We are always excited for the opportunity to use the unforgettable experience of the Kentucky Derby as a platform for good,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack president Mike Anderson. “It's incredibly rewarding when we can combine our charitable goals with a partner like Mattress Mack and give back to those in our community who, through their work or volunteerism, make our city and our world a better place.”

Maryhurst, Kentucky's oldest child-serving nonprofit organization, works to prevent abuse, restore hope and empower survivors of trauma and abuse. Maryhurst provides community-based counseling and wellbeing services, residential treatment and community and transitional living support.

“We are so grateful for our long standing partnership with Churchill Downs,” said Micah Jorrisch, vice president of external relations for Maryhurst. “This generous donation from Mattress Mack has presented a wonderful chance to recognize professionals and foster families who work tirelessly to ensure that every child in Kentucky has the opportunity to thrive.”

Boys & Girls Haven is a nonprofit transforming the lives of abandoned, abused and neglected children. Their programs include in-home foster care, residential foster care, transitional living, independence readiness and Haven family services.

“For over 70 years, we have provided a home and a future for our community's most vulnerable young people,” said Amanda Masterson, CEO of Boys and Girls Haven. “We are proud to be a part of the Kentucky Derby Foster Family Initiative; we are grateful for the support and ongoing partnership with Churchill Downs.”

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