Kentucky Derby runs Red Carpet Program

25 Apr 2008

OUISVILLE, Kentucky – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Celebrity guests planning to attend Kentucky Derby 134 will literally receive the "red carpet treatment" when they arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3.

The historic racetrack is creating an elaborate red carpet entrance that will serve as the official entry point for celebrities attending Kentucky Derby 134. The red carpet entrance, which is located at the east end of the Marquee Village hospitality area just outside the Gate 10 clubhouse entrance, features a 150-foot red-carpeted runway with an adjacent media gallery that extends the full length of the red carpet. Approximately 40 media organizations will be credentialed to cover red carpet arrivals.

NBC Sports will cover red carpet arrivals and televise celebrity interviews as part of its scheduled two-and-one-half hour Kentucky Derby Day telecast. NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage begins with "Access at the Kentucky Derby," including "The Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Show." at 4 p.m. (all times EDT). Access Hollywood reporter Billy Bush will serve as the primary host for "Access at the Kentucky Derby."

Beginning at 5 p.m., the NBC Sports team, led by veteran sportscasters Bob Costas and Tom Hammond and television commentator and former Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens, will host the 90-minute telecast of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, featuring some of the nation's top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds trying to secure their place in history by competing in the world-famous "Run for the Roses." NBC Sports' broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Barton Brothers, who retired in 1998 after an impressive 11-year career as a jockey. The Kentucky Derby on NBC is produced by Sam Flood and directed by David Michaels.

"Churchill Downs is thrilled to be working with NBC Sports, our sponsor partners and our local celebrity Derby party organizers to highlight all of the excitement and glamour that surrounds celebrities' participation in the Kentucky Derby," said Dave Tompkins, vice president of marketing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. "The connection between Hollywood and the Kentucky Derby extends back to the days of Col. Matt Winn, who as president of Churchill Downs invited stars of the silver screen, artists and athletes, world leaders and socialites to experience the 'Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.' We are proud to continue that tradition with a new twist by bringing the trappings of Tinseltown to Churchill Downs for a truly unique red carpet experience. Our sincere thanks go to our local celebrity party hostesses and our sponsor partners for working with us on this year's event."

On-Track Fans Tap Into the 'Buzz' From the Red Carpet Via Large Infield Video Screens

Churchill Downs will have its own team of celebrity interviewers on the red carpet who will be sharing all of the scoop with race fans in the stands on Kentucky Derby Day. Louisville Courier-Journal celebrity columnist Angie Fenton and WAVE-3 weekend weather anchor Angie Glotzbach will team to bring Derby-goers the "Buzz from the Red Carpet." Television interviews recorded by Fenton and Glotzbach will be played on the large video screens that sit atop Churchill Downs' two infield tote boards. The same interviews will be available to off-track stargazers through the official Kentucky Derby event Web site, the official Kentucky Derby Party Web site and the Web sites for the Courier-Journal and WAVE 3 News.

"We know many race fans love seeing the stars on Derby Day," Tompkins continued, "and this year, our red carpet "Buzz" reporters will give our guests an up-close look at all of the red carpet action, from what the stars are wearing, to who they like in the big race."

Celebrity 'Green Room" is Really Green!

After posing for photographs and participating in media interviews, celebrity guests will enter a VIP lounge area called "The Green Room," which is aptly named because the 30-by-30-foot enclosed space will be filled with living plants and floral bouquets. The Green Room will feature designer furniture from Brown-Jordan; floor coverings from Sam Kinnaird Flooring of St. Matthews; a bar station manned by Levy Restaurants, serving Diageo products; and dozens of trees and shrubs, potted plants, topiary, fresh cut flowers and greenery provided by the Churchill Downs horticulture team and Kroger, the official florist of the Kentucky Derby and creator of the famed Garland of Roses.

"We wanted our first red carpet lounge to have a look and feel that was completely fresh and unexpected," said Tompkins. "The celebrity Green Room will look like an indoor garden and provide an attractive place for celebrity guests to relax, socialize and enjoy some refreshments before being escorted to their seating areas. True to its name, The Green Room and more than 50 percent of its contents will be recycled after Derby weekend, as all of the plant material inside the celebrity lounge will find a permanent home in the gardens and public areas surrounding Churchill Downs."

A unique display will be positioned just outside The Green Room, where celebrities can check out the partial fuselage of an Embraer luxury jet. Official sponsors of the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet include Embraer, Visa and Godiva Liqueur.

Churchill Downs Ask Stars for the Clothes Off Their Backs to Help Kids In Need

Celebrities who want to dress the part for at day at the track and the lavish parties that surround Kentucky Derby weekend can also help several worthy causes. Churchill Downs is partnering with the nonprofit Clothes Off Our Back® Foundation, which hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items, including hats and apparel, that are donated by celebrities are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's and horse racing industry charities.

Clothes Off Our Back organizers will be reaching out to Kentucky Derby 134 celebrity attendees in hopes of collecting Kentucky Derby apparel, including Derby hats, for auction. More than 500 celebrities have participated in Clothes Off Our Back auctions since the organization's inception in 2002, helping raise more than $2 million for children's charities. For more information about Clothes Off Our Back and its 2008 charity auction beneficiaries, clothesoffourback.org.

Language: English Location: Currency: > edit my preferences Home Online Slots Live Dealer Games Online Casinos Online Poker Online Bingo Games Lotteries Sports & Racebooks Fantasy Sports Forex Betting Exchanges Spread Betting Binary Options Exclusive Bonuses Weekly Newsletter Online Gaming News Payment Methods Gaming Software Gaming Site Owners Gaming Jurisdictions		Bonuses! New games! Gossip! And all the player news you can handle. Sign up NOW! View the current issue
	Kentucky Derby runs Red Carpet Program 25 Apr 2008 <a href='https://ad.casinocity.com/adclick.php?n=a21efcd1'><img src='https://ad.casinocity.com/adview.php?what=-site:vendors/width:250/RON&n=a21efcd1' border='0' alt='' /></a> OUISVILLE, Kentucky – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Celebrity guests planning to attend Kentucky Derby 134 will literally receive the "red carpet treatment" when they arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3. The historic racetrack is creating an elaborate red carpet entrance that will serve as the official entry point for celebrities attending Kentucky Derby 134. The red carpet entrance, which is located at the east end of the Marquee Village hospitality area just outside the Gate 10 clubhouse entrance, features a 150-foot red-carpeted runway with an adjacent media gallery that extends the full length of the red carpet. Approximately 40 media organizations will be credentialed to cover red carpet arrivals. NBC Sports will cover red carpet arrivals and televise celebrity interviews as part of its scheduled two-and-one-half hour Kentucky Derby Day telecast. NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage begins with "Access at the Kentucky Derby," including "The Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Show." at 4 p.m. (all times EDT). Access Hollywood reporter Billy Bush will serve as the primary host for "Access at the Kentucky Derby." Beginning at 5 p.m., the NBC Sports team, led by veteran sportscasters Bob Costas and Tom Hammond and television commentator and former Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens, will host the 90-minute telecast of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, featuring some of the nation's top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds trying to secure their place in history by competing in the world-famous "Run for the Roses." NBC Sports' broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Barton Brothers, who retired in 1998 after an impressive 11-year career as a jockey. The Kentucky Derby on NBC is produced by Sam Flood and directed by David Michaels. "Churchill Downs is thrilled to be working with NBC Sports, our sponsor partners and our local celebrity Derby party organizers to highlight all of the excitement and glamour that surrounds celebrities' participation in the Kentucky Derby," said Dave Tompkins, vice president of marketing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. "The connection between Hollywood and the Kentucky Derby extends back to the days of Col. Matt Winn, who as president of Churchill Downs invited stars of the silver screen, artists and athletes, world leaders and socialites to experience the 'Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.' We are proud to continue that tradition with a new twist by bringing the trappings of Tinseltown to Churchill Downs for a truly unique red carpet experience. Our sincere thanks go to our local celebrity party hostesses and our sponsor partners for working with us on this year's event." On-Track Fans Tap Into the 'Buzz' From the Red Carpet Via Large Infield Video Screens Churchill Downs will have its own team of celebrity interviewers on the red carpet who will be sharing all of the scoop with race fans in the stands on Kentucky Derby Day. Louisville Courier-Journal celebrity columnist Angie Fenton and WAVE-3 weekend weather anchor Angie Glotzbach will team to bring Derby-goers the "Buzz from the Red Carpet." Television interviews recorded by Fenton and Glotzbach will be played on the large video screens that sit atop Churchill Downs' two infield tote boards. The same interviews will be available to off-track stargazers through the official Kentucky Derby event Web site, the official Kentucky Derby Party Web site and the Web sites for the Courier-Journal and WAVE 3 News. "We know many race fans love seeing the stars on Derby Day," Tompkins continued, "and this year, our red carpet "Buzz" reporters will give our guests an up-close look at all of the red carpet action, from what the stars are wearing, to who they like in the big race." Celebrity 'Green Room" is Really Green! After posing for photographs and participating in media interviews, celebrity guests will enter a VIP lounge area called "The Green Room," which is aptly named because the 30-by-30-foot enclosed space will be filled with living plants and floral bouquets. The Green Room will feature designer furniture from Brown-Jordan; floor coverings from Sam Kinnaird Flooring of St. Matthews; a bar station manned by Levy Restaurants, serving Diageo products; and dozens of trees and shrubs, potted plants, topiary, fresh cut flowers and greenery provided by the Churchill Downs horticulture team and Kroger, the official florist of the Kentucky Derby and creator of the famed Garland of Roses. "We wanted our first red carpet lounge to have a look and feel that was completely fresh and unexpected," said Tompkins. "The celebrity Green Room will look like an indoor garden and provide an attractive place for celebrity guests to relax, socialize and enjoy some refreshments before being escorted to their seating areas. True to its name, The Green Room and more than 50 percent of its contents will be recycled after Derby weekend, as all of the plant material inside the celebrity lounge will find a permanent home in the gardens and public areas surrounding Churchill Downs." A unique display will be positioned just outside The Green Room, where celebrities can check out the partial fuselage of an Embraer luxury jet. Official sponsors of the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet include Embraer, Visa and Godiva Liqueur. Churchill Downs Ask Stars for the Clothes Off Their Backs to Help Kids In Need Celebrities who want to dress the part for at day at the track and the lavish parties that surround Kentucky Derby weekend can also help several worthy causes. Churchill Downs is partnering with the nonprofit Clothes Off Our Back® Foundation, which hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items, including hats and apparel, that are donated by celebrities are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's and horse racing industry charities. Clothes Off Our Back organizers will be reaching out to Kentucky Derby 134 celebrity attendees in hopes of collecting Kentucky Derby apparel, including Derby hats, for auction. More than 500 celebrities have participated in Clothes Off Our Back auctions since the organization's inception in 2002, helping raise more than $2 million for children's charities. For more information about Clothes Off Our Back and its 2008 charity auction beneficiaries, clothesoffourback.org.