Churchill Downs Racing Venue

Churchill Downs plans to double down on night racing next year, offering twice as many racing events under new permanent lights in hopes of whipping up interest long after the Kentucky Derby. The historic Louisville track said Tuesday it intends to host six night racing events in 2010 — four during the spring meet and two in the fall — pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Churchill debuted night racing under temporary lighting at three events during this year's spring meet. Attendance averaged 29,705, far above the typical turnout for those dates. "This is about doing something for the future of racing, ... Read Full Story

Churchill Downs Inc., owner of the horse racing track which hosts the famed Kentucky Derby, announced it has agreed to acquire online betting website YouBet.com. The Louisville, Kentucky-based Churchill Downs said it was acquiring all of the outstanding shares of YouBet in a transaction valued at nearly 127 million dollars. It said that YouBet shareholders would receive 0.0598 shares of Churchill Downs common stock plus 97 cents in cash for each share of YouBet common stock they own. YouBet shareholders would own some 16 percent of Churchill Downs at the close of the transaction. YouBet is a provider of off-track betting services to a ... Read Full Story

Churchill Downs Inc., owner of the racetrack where the Kentucky Derby is held, said Wednesday it will buy the Youbet horse betting Web site for about $126.8 million. Youbet shareholders would get 0.0598 shares of Churchill Downs stock plus 97 cents per share cash for each share of Youbet stock owned. If the deal closes, Youbet shareholders will own a 16 percent stake in Churchill Downs. Youbet lets people bet on horse races online. It has WagerPadPro, MyROI and a beta version of WhoDoYouLike.com, which lets horse racing fans interact during races. Youbet also provides content to CBSSports.com and ESPN.com. Churchill Downs, based in ... Read Full Story

Following the overwhelming popularity of a three-date market test this spring, Churchill Downs will stage six special “Downs After Dark” nighttime racing programs under the lights in 2010. The announcement was made Nov. 17 during a news conference at the Louisville racetrack that also revealed Musco Lighting as the winning contract bidder to install permanent track lighting at Churchill Downs and a new online platform for patrons to purchase tickets to the track. Churchill Downs will host its unique Downs After Dark programs on the final four Fridays of the 42-date spring meet and two evening cards during the 20-date fall meet, including opening ... Read Full Story

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Churchill Downs Inc., owner of the horse racing track which hosts the famed Kentucky Derby, announced it has agreed to acquire online betting website YouBet.com. The Louisville, Kentucky-based Churchill Downs said it was acquiring all of the outstanding shares of YouBet in a transaction valued at nearly 127 million dollars. It said that YouBet shareholders would receive 0.0598 shares of Churchill Downs common stock plus 97 cents in cash for each share of YouBet common stock they own. YouBet shareholders would own some 16 percent of Churchill Downs at the close of the transaction. YouBet is a provider of off-track betting ... Read Full Story