Crown Royal 'Festival in the Infield Club' Brings Lounge Experience Trackside at Churchill Downs on April 30

Crown Royal 'Festival in the Infield Club' Brings Lounge Experience Trackside at Churchill Downs on April 30

Live Performances from TelluRide, DJ Vice and Mixologist Chris Raph

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Kentucky Derby race fans now have a new option for celebrating in the Infield. The Crown Royal "Festival in the Infield Club" will debut Churchill Downs' new 93,000 square foot, secured hospitality area in the center of the Infield at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday, April 30.

Crown Royal Festival in the Infield Club allows guests to enjoy the exuberant party atmosphere of the traditional infield with upgraded amenities, including a 430-foot bar, private betting windows, JumboTron televisions, premium food and cocktail selections, limited shading seating areas and Executive Restroom facilities.

Attendees will enjoy a full day of music and entertainment, along with a full race schedule against the backdrop of Churchill Downs and its historic Twin Spires.

The event will be headlined by Nashville-based contemporary country music artists TelluRide and the popular DJ Vice. This year marks the 12th consecutive year Crown Royal(R) Canadian Whisky has sponsored music programming at Churchill Downs on Thursday of Derby Week.

Horses rule the track, but behind the bar nobody is faster than master mixologist, Chris Raph. On April 16, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Raph set a new Guinness World Record(TM) for the most cocktails made in one hour. At Crown Royal Festival in the Infield Club, Raph will amaze attendees with speed-mixing demonstrations.

The admission price for the Crown Royal Festival in the Infield Club is $15 per person, and includes track admission. The live music will take place on the Infield Club stage beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. While the Infield Club will debut on Thursday, April 30, the rest of Churchill Downs' infield area will not open to patrons until Kentucky Oaks Day on Friday, May 1.

"Each year we have enjoyed partnering with Churchill Downs to help make spring racing a good time for race fans," said Rob Mason, senior brand manager on Crown Royal. "We are excited to be in the new Infield Club to gather people together to celebrate the new season responsibly and enjoy some great food and music."

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 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. The track's 2009 Spring Meet runs from April 25 through July 5. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders` Cup World Championships for a record seventh time November 5-6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found at www.churchilldowns.com.

About Crown Royal:

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one-selling Canadian whisky brand in the U.S. by value and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. In addition to its sponsorship at Churchill Downs, the brand also sponsors NASCAR auto racing, Championship Bull Riding and a number of other major regional and national events. For more information visit: http://www.crownroyal.com/.

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Source: Crown Royal

CONTACT: Mike Manning of Proof Media Mix, +1-720-936-3996,
mike@proofmediamix.com; or Greg Leonard of Diageo, +1-646-223-2000,
Greg.Leonard@diageo.com, both for Crown Royal

Web Site: http://www.crownroyal.com/
http://www.churchilldowns.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment