Mike Anderson

The 150th Spring Meet at Churchill Downs concluded Sunday with a record $708.3 million wagered over the 43-day meet. That broke the 2022 Spring Meet record of $614.8 million by $93.5 million. Just 10 years ago, the Spring Meet betting totaled $368.8 million. All sources handle during the six-day Derby Week (April 27-May 4) rose to $446.6 million--including $320.5 million on Kentucky Derby Day--to eclipse last year's Derby Week record of $412.0 million. The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37 days of the Spring Meet (May 9-June 30) as...

Nadine Seckman, a junior at Atherton High School, has been named the grand prize winner of the 38th annual Horsing Around With Art competition, presented by WinStar Farm. The HAWA Grand Prize is awarded to the artist whose work best captures the spirit of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs Racetrack President, Mike Anderson, said Seckman's piece embodied the emotion of Derby. "For 149 years, it's been about the horse. And for Derby 150, this portrait of the horse in front of the Twin Spires captures the very spirit of the...

The 150th GI Kentucky Derby scheduled for Saturday, May 4 will be the richest in history as the purse for America's greatest race has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) said in a release Wednesday. The $2 million increase to the race highlights a record-setting, 50-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $25.6 million for Churchill Downs' 2024 Spring Meet, which will be run over 43 dates from April 27-June 30/ The Derby purse structure was the subject of a Chris McGrath TDN interview with John Sikura,...

A multi-year partnership between Churchill Downs Racetrack and Sports Illustrated for exclusive naming rights of a new luxury dining experience, Club SI, ahead of the 150th running of the May 4 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday. Originally planned as the 1895 Club, Club SI will be unveiled opening night of Derby Week. Club SI is part of the $200 million renovated Paddock Project at Churchill Downs, offering a new luxury equine-focused dining experience with a view of the all-new paddock and paddock runway giving guests behind-the-scenes experiences. The...

Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) will "update and refresh" the Jockey Club Suites at the Louisville oval in a $14-million renovation, the company announced late Wednesday. The modernization project will be finished prior to the 2024 Kentucky Derby. "The Jockey Club Suites are a core premium hospitality product," said Churchill President Mike Anderson. "This renovation project will ensure existing and future suite holders are provided the entertainment experience Churchill Downs is known for and our guests have come to expect for Kentucky Derby Week and all other racing events." All 61...

LG&E and KU Energy have partnered with Churchill Downs to become the first Green Energy partner of the Kentucky Derby. LG&E and KU Energy, the holding company for Kentucky's two largest utilities--Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company--will be the presenting sponsor of Saturday's 10-race opening night program, which is now officially billed as "Opening Night Powered by LG&E" and kicks off the first "green" Kentucky Derby Week. Through participation in LG&E and KU's Green Energy program, Churchill Downs Racetrack has agreed to purchase blocks of Green Energy...

Churchill Downs has unveiled plans for three capital investments to the historic Louisville track, beginning with the Homestretch Club for Kentucky Derby 2022 and culminating with a Paddock area redesign for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2024. The Homestretch Club will renovate and update the grandstand area adjacent to the Twin Spires along the track's homestretch. The project will convert what is currently outdoor bleacher seating next to the Winner's Circle Suites and below the Jockey Club Suites into three unique seating options with all-inclusive amenities. Ticketed...

Funeral services for Donald Ray "Donnie" Richardson, the former senior vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated until his retirement in 2012, will take place Friday morning, Apr. 30, at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1000 N. Beckley Station Road in Louisville, with burial to follow in Cavalry Cemetery. A visitation was to be held Thursday evening. Richardson, who was 75 at the time of his passing, was born Jan. 27, 1946, and spent the majority of his career in the racing business. His father, Elmer, ran the program...

A limited number of infield-only general admission tickets for the Apr. 30 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and May 1 GI Kentucky Derby day cards at Churchill Downs will go on sale Wednesday at noon at kentuckyderby.com/tickets/2021-derby-week-tickets. "The Kentucky Derby experience is synonymous with fun and excitement and we're thrilled to welcome fans back to our infield," said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. "We remain committed to relying on the most recent scientific evidence we have surrounding COVID-19, and with Kentucky Derby week three weeks away, we are encouraged by...

Churchill Downs will offer 40 stakes races worth a record $13.44 million during its upcoming Spring Meet, which runs from Apr. 24 through June 26. The nine-week meeting kicks off Derby week with 18 stakes worth $10.14 million and culminating with the 147th running of the $3-million GI Kentucky Derby May 1. The Derby day stakes line-up includes the $1-million GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; $500,000 GI Churchill Downs S. presented by Ford; and $500,000 GI Derby City Distaff. The marquee race day also includes the $500,000 GII Longines...

Mike Anderson has been named the 14th President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday. Anderson brings to the role 24 years of leadership experience at CDI, having recently served as Vice President of Operations, where he led the planning, construction and opening of over $300 million in capital projects across CDI's properties. He joined CDI in 1996 as Controller and has held a number of roles with the Company, including Vice President of Corporate Finance, Investor Relations, Risk Management and Treasurer. Anderson will report to Bill Mudd,...