starlight racing returns friday with the chee-weez

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com

NEW ORLEANS (Tuesday, January 15, 2013) - The first Starlight Racing of 2013 is set for Friday with popular cover band The Chee-Weez in the Clubhouse and DJ San-D in the Miller Time Beer Garden. The Starlight food lineup, which has become an attraction in its own right thanks to a rotating cast of the city's favorite food trucks and pop-ups, includes Crepes a la Carte, Empanada Infitada, La Cocinita and Woody's Fish Tacos.

Fair Grounds now offers the convenience of advance ticket purchasing for its biggest events online at FGNO.com/tickets. Advance Fair Grounds tickets are on sale now for the six remaining Starlight Racing dates (Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 22, March 1, March 8 and March 15) and two days of high-quality graded stakes racing (Road to the Derby Kickoff Day Presented by Hotel Monteleone on Saturday and Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Lamarque Ford on Feb. 23).

Grandstand General Admission is $5. Clubhouse and Miller Time Beer Garden Admission is $10. In addition to the new online advance purchasing, admissions will still be sold at the door.

First post for Friday's Starlight Racing program is 5 p.m. San-D will spin in the trackside Miller Time Beer Garden starting at 6 p.m., while The Chee-Weez will rock the Clubhouse stage beginning at 7 p.m. Racing will continue until just before 10 p.m. and the party will continue in the Clubhouse for at least another hour after that.

As always, Starlight Racing guests are encouraged to help make the night memorable and "dress to impress."

The Miller Time Beer Garden is always restricted to guests 21 and up. The Grandstand and Clubhouse are open to guests 18 and up, as well as minors accompanied by a parent or guardian. The adjacent Fair Grounds Slots facility is restricted to guests 21 and up.

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 141^st Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 31, 2013, highlighted by the milestone 100^th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Kentucky Derby hopefuls on March 30, 2013. More information can be found online at http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/.