Churchill Downs Looks To Attract More Women, Younger Fans
 |
New Attraction At Track Will Be Friday's
"Dress To Impress" Happy Hours |
Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery said that the track "will continue to seek approval for expanded gambling while looking for ways to bring more women and younger fans" to races, according to Gregory Hall of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Flanery, who assumed his role in July, said, "Ultimately the idea is that the on-track experience, be it a Thursday or a Sunday, is something that appeals to every demographic in some way." Hall notes Flanery's goals "include bringing people back who haven't been there in a while, demystifying the sport for novices, attracting new fans and offering more options while at the races." A new attraction "will be the Friday 'Dress to Impress' happy hours, which Flanery said place an emphasis on fashion, catering to females and in turn drawing males." The track also "will utilize company handicapper Jill Byrne for a new 'Daybreak at the Downs' on Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m." Free coffee, doughnuts and milk "will be served in sections 116 and 117 and attendees can stay free for the afternoon racing." A "Win Jill Byrne's Money" promo on Thursdays "will allow a chosen attendee to pick a horse in four consecutive races." The contestant gets $100 for "each of the picks that beats Byrne's picks," and if the person "sweeps all four picks over Byrne's horses, then the contestant gets a $400 bonus." Churchill Downs directors also "recently agreed to buy permanent lighting to be installed for the spring meet, and Flanery and others will have to decide how often to use night racing and how to make it as 'fresh' as the experiment" this past summer. Flanery also said that expanded gambling "will be one of Churchill's main pushes because it could supplement purses and make Kentucky tracks more competitive" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/3).
HOME REPAIRS: Kentucky Derby Museum officials yesterday said that the museum, closed for repairs due to flooding in August, "plans new attractions as part of a $5.5[M] exhibit face-lift that will push back its reopening to April 18." The COURIER-JOURNAL's Hall notes the project "will accelerate a major exhibit renovation that had been scheduled for several years from now, and will include such interactive features as an 'It's my Derby' exhibit that will gather and archive the Derby experiences of anyone willing to tell a story, ranging from trainers to people who watch the Derby every year at home." The museum previously announced it would "remain closed at least through the end of 2009 to address more than" $4M in flood damage. It is the "first overhaul of exhibit space since a 1999-2000 renovation" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/3).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Sports Figures Appear On Reality Shows
March 15, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Churchill Downs To Host Annual Music Fest
December 1, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Churchill Downs Plans Six Night-Time Races
November 18, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
CDI Has Deal To Acquire Youbet.com
November 12, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Churchill Downs To Bring Back Night Racing
September 29, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Sports Figures Appear On Reality Shows
March 15, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Aqueduct Casino Deal Scrapped
March 12, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Calipari Appearing On Maker's Mark Labels
March 2, 2010 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Cordish Moving Forward On Maryland Casino
December 23, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Belmont Stakes Could Be Canceled This Year
December 21, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
