Fair Grounds Announces Schedule, Purse Changes

BOSSIER CITY, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 28, 2005--Fair Grounds Race Course today announced additional enhancements to its racing and purse schedule for the final month of its meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

The changes include the addition of an 11th race beginning with the program of Sunday, Jan. 1; a $25,000 increase to each of six Louisiana-bred stakes on "Louisiana Lagniappe Weekend" Jan. 21-22; an increase in all remaining stakes purses by changing their status from "guaranteed" to "added," which will add all nomination and entry fees to the listed purse money; and a 20 percent increase in overnight purses for four "Owner Appreciation Days" on January 7, 14, 21 and 22.

The purse enhancements were implemented due to continued better-than-expected business levels at the six Fair Grounds affiliated off-track betting ("OTB") facilities in the New Orleans area that have reopened in the last two months, including the newly reopened location in Gretna. Fair Grounds Race Course and four other OTBs remain closed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Fair Grounds' 37-day race meet at its temporary host site, Harrah's Louisiana Downs, concludes Jan. 22.

Fair Grounds Race Course, the nation's third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) and also operates off-track betting parlors in southeast Louisiana. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Fair Grounds is conducting a 37-day meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., from Nov. 19, 2005, through Jan. 22, 2006. Information about Fair Grounds can be found on the Internet at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.