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FAIR GROUNDS OAKS RAISED TO $500K - Five closing weekend stakes get purse bumps; overnight fields of 10-plus will run for 25% more NEW ORLEANS - March 12, 2011 – The purse for the March 26 Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has been boosted to $500,000 (from $400,000), making it the richest prep race for 3-year-old fillies pointing to the prestigious May 6 Kentucky Oaks. Four of the last six winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to win the Kentucky Oaks: Rachel Alexandra (2009), Proud Spell (2008), Summerly (2005) and Ashado (2004). Fair Grounds also announced a $50,000 increase to the March 26 Grade II Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap (for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on turf), bringing its purse to $400,000. Cumulatively, the six March 26 stakes – led by the $1 million Louisiana Derby (for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles) and also including the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (for older horses at 1 1/8 miles), the $150,000 Duncan Kenner Stakes (for older horses at six furlongs) and the $100,000 Bayou Handicap (for older females at 1 1/16 miles on turf) – are now worth $2.55 million, further extending its claim as the richest day of racing in state history. In addition, three Louisiana-bred stakes on March 25 have been bumped from $60,000 to $75,000 apiece: the Costa Rising Stakes (older horses at 1 1/16 miles), the Red Camelia Stakes (older females at 1 1/16 miles on turf) and the Bayou St. John Stakes (older horses at 5 ½ furlongs on turf). Along with the Crescent City Oaks and Crescent City Derby, already worth $75,000 each, the five-stakes Louisiana-bred extravaganza billed as “Battle On the Bayou” kicks off the final weekend of the season. To encourage attractive field sizes on the three-day closing weekend, March 25-27, Fair Grounds will add 25% to the purse of any overnight race that has a field of 10 or more at the time horses leave the paddock. “Due to the strength of our local businesses – live racing, casino gaming and video poker – we’re able to add some additional funds to the purses during the last week of our meet,” said Fair Grounds Vice President & General Manager Eric Halstrom. “Increasing the purses on certain stakes is consistent with our continued effort to attract the best horses in the country to New Orleans and the bonuses on the overnight races for full fields will benefit the horsemen who have stayed with us through the end of our season, not to mention the value-seeking bettors.” About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 139th Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 27, 2011, highlighted by the 98th Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 26. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com .