Starlight Signature Cocktails Debut Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jim Mulvihill
Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
504.948.1233
james.mulvihill@fgno.com

STARLIGHT SIGNATURE COCKTAILS DEBUT FRIDAY
Adult Snowball, Whipped Sunrise Won Contest at Season's First Night Racing Party

NEW ORLEANS (Tuesday, January 17, 2011) - Two new drinks - the Adult Snowball and the Whipped Sunrise - have been named official signature cocktails of the 2012 Starlight Racing series at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The concoctions were selected by a panel of guest judges that tasted new offerings by 10 local bartenders during a contest at the first Starlight Racing event of the year on January 6.

The Adult Snowball, created by Ed Voltolina of Knuckleheads Sports Bar & Grill in Metairie, features Smirnoff Pomegranate mixed with cranberry juice and soda water. The Whipped Sunrise, by Jordan Farrido of Paradise Sports Bar in Marrero, uses Smirnoff Whipped Vodka with pineapple juice, sour mix and grenadine.

"These drinks are fun and they're different from anything else in New Orleans, just like Starlight Racing," said Fair Grounds Senior Marketing Manager Leslie Monson.

The signature drink competition was presented by Diageo, the world's leading premium sprits distributor and a Starlight Racing partner.

The Adult Snowball and the Whipped Sunrise will be sold in the Miller Lite Beer Garden for $6 each beginning with this Friday's Starlight Racing, headlined by the Bucktown All-Stars and DJ Kemistry. First post (starting time for the evening's first race) is 5 p.m. and guests are encouraged to "dress to impress" in accordance with that night's theme - "1970s Disco."

Winning mixologists Voltolina and Farrido will be recognized Friday night with races named in their honor and trophy presentations in the winner's circle.

In addition to Friday, the remaining Starlight Racing dates for 2012 are February 10 (The Topcats and DJ Spin), February 24 (The Mixed Nuts and DJ Digital), March 16 (Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters and DJ Jive) and March 30 (Groovy 7 and DJ Kemistry).

Starlight Racing is presented in partnership with Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Ketel One Vodka, Crown Royal and Where Y'At.

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 Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season will run through April 1, 2012, highlighted by the $1 million Louisiana Derby on April 1. More information can be found online at http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/.

-FG-