Arlington Park

Contact: David Zenner
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com

ILLINOIS TRACKSIDE OTBs TO OFFER PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT MARCH 8

Top Five Overall Finishers to Receive Free Berth into April 5 DRF/NTRA Qualifier

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Feb. 25, 2008) – Local handicappers will get the chance to earn a free entry into the April 5 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifying tournament by winning a free Play-In Contest to be held at all 11 Illinois Trackside OTB facilities on Saturday, March 8.

Players will utilize five races from that day’s card at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The March 8 program at the historic Louisiana track includes six stakes races, four of which are Grade II races: the $600,000 Louisiana Derby, the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap, the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap and the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Contestants will be asked to choose one horse in each race. Points will be awarded to selected horses who finish first (five points), second (three points) and third (one point). The top five finishers from the entire contestant pool from all 11 Trackside facilities will earn a free entry into the April 5 tournament which will be held at Trackside Arlington Park.

A bonus of $500 will be awarded to the top OTB finisher in the April 5 contest with an additional $500 bonus to be awarded should that contestant finish in the top 10 overall.

For more information about the free Play-In Contest, contact Brett Loy at (847) 385-7713.

Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 96-day meet in 2008 from Friday, May 2 through Sunday, Sept. 21. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 11 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities: Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Rockford, Trackside Waukegan, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in Lockport, Lucky’s featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, The Inferno featuring Trackside OTB in South Beloit, Rookies featuring Trackside OTB in Homewood and Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside OTB in Hodgkins. Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.