James Boitt Switches for Cool Victory in the ING Georgia Marathon

/PRNewswire/ -- After days of drought-relieving rain left Atlanta with cool and windy conditions on Sunday, James Boitt felt like this might be his day. Boitt, a Kenyan living in Peachtree City, Ga., switched from the half to the full marathon on race day and went on to win the ING Georgia Marathon with a time of 2:22:16, for his first major marathon victory. The combo distance running event sold out with 15,000 runners and wheelchair athletes registering for the third annual ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. Complete race results are available at www.inggeorgiamarathon.com.

"I switched to the marathon today because I felt like I could be fast," said Boitt, a native Kenyan who notched his second marathon victory in the state of Georgia in the month of March after winning in Albany. "I was happy that everybody did not start too fast in the first 10 miles. I laid back for a while at the 20-mile mark, then I was really strong at the end and took the lead for good at mile 24." Boitt closed with a strong enough sprint to nearly catch the police escort at the finish line, beating second place finisher Kassahun Kabiso (Ethiopia) by 34 seconds.

Serkalem Abrha of Ethiopia came out on top in the women's field of the ING Georgia Marathon with a time of 2:41:31, edging out second place finisher Albina Gallyamova of Russia. "This was a hard race for me," said Abrha, who won the ING Hartford Marathon in 2008. "But I was very confident when I was leading, so I felt very good once I got to the front."

Kenyan Janet Cherobon, who lives in Rome, Ga., took victory for the third straight year in the women's open division of the ING Georgia Half Marathon in 1:14:49. Cherobon's pace was fast enough to finish in the Top 10 overall in the Half Marathon. Patrick Cheruiyot of Kenya was the overall winner of the men's Half Marathon with a time of 1:05:18.

"I like this course very much, especially the hills which are very good for me. It's definitely a home course advantage for me," said Cherobon. "I love this race and it was perfect conditions today for a fast race."

"The weather often writes its own story for us in this race and this year is no exception as days of heavy rain left the area just in time for the start," said Michael Hughes, race director ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. "The runners were blessed with cool conditions that were just right for fast times over our beautiful, but challenging course. The participation of everyone, from the runners to the volunteers to the spectators, was a fantastic and energetic way to kick off spring in Atlanta."

The wheelchair half marathon saw a third straight championship for both the men's and women's divisions. Krige Schabort (men's open division) and Amanda McGrory (women's open division) successfully defended their titles from 2007 and 2008, further cementing their domination of the event. Schabort, who resides in Cedartown, Ga., finished in 49:14, setting a new race record. McGrory, from Champaign, Ill., finished with a time of 1:05:36.

"I may be a little bit different than other racers because I actually prefer the hills," said McGrory about the challenging race course. "It's a difficult course, but it is definitely one of my favorites."

The ING Run For Something Better program, also in its third year in Atlanta, sported a field of 1,500 middle school children finishing the Final Mile of a half marathon along the same course. This year, students in 26 local middle schools (Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools and a Decatur Middle School) ran 13.1 miles over nine weeks in their physical education classes.

The urban marathon racecourse starts and finishes at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta and in-between takes runners through the most interesting areas and historic neighborhoods of Atlanta and the city of Decatur. Adding to its popularity, the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon boasts an incredibly high completion rate of more than 98 percent for its first three years, which reflects the determination of the runners as well as the course experience itself.

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Legendary Prep Basketball Coach Morgan Wootten Announces McDonald's All American(R) Players of the Year

/PRNewswire/ -- Derrick Favors, the 6'9", 235 lb. prep superstar from South Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Ga., was named the thirteenth-annual Morgan Wootten Award winner today. Previous winners include Greg Oden (2006), Dwight Howard (2004), LeBron James (2003), Jason Williams (1999) and the Award's first recipient Shane Battier (1997).

Joining Favors in the honor is McDonald's All American(R) Female Player of the Year, Kelsey Bone, from John Foster Dulles High School in Stafford, Texas. Bone is the eighth female to be added to the impressive list that includes Tina Charles (2006), Abby Waner (2005), Candace Parker (2004) and Ivory Latta (2003).

The Morgan Wootten Award is given to the McDonald's All American players who exemplify outstanding character, exhibit leadership and embody the values of being a student-athlete in both schoolwork and community service activities. McDonald's(R) established the Award in Wootten's name to pay tribute to his unprecedented achievements as a teacher and a coach. The official presentation will take place at the McDonald's All American Games awards banquet on March 31 in Miami, Fla.

Described as a pure athlete, Favors is also an honor roll student at South Atlanta High School. When he's not playing basketball, he spends his time reading and participating in the chess club and Kappa League Mentoring Program. On the court, Favors is the No. 1 ranked high school prospect in the class of 2009, according to Scout.com.

"It's a big honor and privilege to be named the McDonald's All American Game(R) Player of the Year," Favors said. "I'm really looking forward to the Game and plan to just go out there, play hard and try to live up to the hype."

Bone is considered one of the most well-rounded student athletes on the 2009 McDonald's All American Team. In addition to her basketball achievements, which include winning the gold medal in 2008 as a member of the under-18 USA Basketball Team, Bone is also committed to excellence off the court. Her school-related activities include theatre arts and serving as a fifth grade mentor at a nearby elementary school. Bone is fluent in American Sign Language and also writes a basketball blog for the Houston Chronicle.

"It's an honor to be recognized by Coach Wootten and the McDonald's All American Games for all of my hard work on the court," said Bone. "It means a lot to be named to the McDonald's All American Team and even more to be selected as the McDonald's All American Game Player of the Year."

Favors and Bone are two of only 48 high school seniors selected to play in the 32nd annual McDonald's All American High School Basketball Games, which takes place at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Fla. on Wednesday, April 1. The Boys Game begins at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and airs live on ESPN. The Girls Game precedes the Boys' at 5:30 p.m. (ET) and will air live on ESPNU.

Favors and Bone will head to top ranked universities after graduation. Favors has committed to Georgia Tech and Bone is deciding between Texas A&M, South Carolina, Texas and Illinois.

The McDonald's All American Games are about more than just basketball. Each year, proceeds raised from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) (RMHC(R)) and their local Chapters across the country. Proceeds from the 2009 Games will go to RMHC of South Florida. To date, the McDonald's All American Games have raised millions of dollars for RMHC and its local Chapters.

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Kids Get Free Shoes & Learn From Kenyans at Reebok’s Mountain High Running Camp

Mountain High Running Camp (North Carolina) will once again offer high school cross country runners the chance to live and train with elite Kenyan distance runners. The camp, held July 13 -18, is open to runners of all abilities, from beginners to state champions, and is the only summer running camp that provides a brand new pair of Reebok running shoes, making it the best camp value in the US.Set up in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains just below 6,700-ft Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in the East, the camp offers beautiful trails, expert instruction and lots of fun. The camp is limited to 150 campers and registration is now open for both teams and individuals. For more information and an application visit www.mountainhighrunning.com or contact camp director Scott Simmons coach@mountainhighrunning.com or 704-688-2814.
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Former NFL Player, Emory Alum to Lead Forum on Race and Athletics March 25

An in-depth look at the ways in which race and sports have been intertwined at Emory University will be held Wednesday, March 25, when the university's Transforming Community Project holds a forum on "Changing the Game: Race and Sports at Emory." The event begins at 4 p.m. in Cox Hall on the Emory campus and is free and open to the public.

Opening remarks will be given by Emory alumnus Pellom McDaniels III, a seven-year member of the National Football League (1993-1999), as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, and one of only a handful of former NFL players to earn a Ph.D. He also is a poet, artist and a teacher.

Now an assistant professor of history and American studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, McDaniels received both his master of arts degree (2006) and his doctoral degree (2007) in American studies from Emory's Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts with his dissertation “The Angle of Ascent: Race, Class, Sport, and the Representations of African American Masculinity." McDaniels’ publications also include “My Own Harlem’ (1998), “You Want to Be Pro” (2000) and “We’re American Too: The Negro Leagues and the Philosophy of Resistance” (2004).

The forum will be moderated by Emory alumnus Amri Johnson, a member of the Emory Alumni Board and its diversity and community board.

Other panelists include:

Tim Downes, director of athletics and recreation at Emory
Lloyd Winston, former head coach of the men’s basketball team (1987-1992) and first African-American head coach at the university
Christy Thomaskutty, head women’s basketball coach
Jason Campbell, a member of the track and field program, and
Amelia McCall of the volleyball team.

The panel discussion was made possible through the Transforming Community Project, a five-year initiative begun in 2005 to document the university’s past and confront current challenges around the issue of race, as well as the Caucus of Black Emory Alumni; the President’s Commission on Race and Ethnicity; Public Humanities Race and Difference Initiative; Emory Athletics and the Black Graduate Student Association.

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Atlanta Braves 2009 Promotional Schedule features Savings, Fireworks and All Stars

The Atlanta Braves 2009 promotional schedule features two-for-one ticket offers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; post-game Fireworks every Friday; and All Star Sundays when fans can meet Braves alumni and children 14 and under can run the bases.

The Braves complete promotional schedule follows and is available at www.Braves.com/promotions. New items and promotional days will be added throughout the season and all promotions are subject to change.

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Empire Tickets Rolls Out the Most Affordable Corporate Masters Golf Tournament and Custom Hospitality Packages in Six Years

/PRNewswire/ -- Empire Tickets, Inc. (www.empiretickets.com), the leader in providing premium tickets to companies and individuals worldwide, today announced that it is rolling out its corporate packages for the spring golf season 2009, including the Masters Golf tournament at Augusta National with the most affordable pricing in over six years.

Empire Tickets will offer worldwide corporate groups hospitality, accommodations, transportation and especially premium tickets for all days. Each company will have their own hospitality manager, preferred pricing and 24-hour Web access through www.empiretickets.com for the best tickets to all events. Monday practice rounds are starting at around $175.00, making this one of the most affordable Masters in years.

Empire Tickets will offer hospitality all seven days of the event through Club Magnolia, the newest hospitality facility in Augusta. The club is just steps away from Augusta National and will offer a five star menu, three bars, a business center, a full time concierge, on-site masseuse, and a cigar patio.

"We pride ourselves on offering the most comprehensive corporate sports entertainment packages in the industry. We have earned the trust of many Fortune 100 and 500 companies, with personalized customer service, preferred pricing, and more than sixteen years as a leader in the ticket industry," says Robbi Raitt, President and Founder. "This year, with the recession, it will be one of the most affordable years to attend this historic event. We are seeing prices the lowest that they have been in many years."

Masters 2009 will be one for the ages, with the return of Tiger Woods and great prices on badges, hospitality, housing and more.

"This is the year for golf enthusiasts, who have never gone to the Masters because of price, to have a rare opportunity to attend one of golf's greatest tournaments," says Jugal Purohit, Purohit Holdings Hotel Group.

The stage is set for one of the most memorable Masters ever in 2009. Don't miss a minute of it. For more information or to order tickets call 404.467.0227 or log on to www.empiretickets.com and for more information on Club Magnolia log on to www.clubmagnoliahospitality.com.

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Atlanta Braves' FREE Open House set for Saturday, March 28th

The Atlanta Braves will host a free Open House for fans Saturday, March 28 from 12 - 4 PM. The Turner Field gates will open at noon, and fans can watch the Braves take on the New York Yankees live from Spring Training on the World's largest high definition video board at 1:05 p.m., courtesy of SportSouth.

Open House Activities

Watch the Braves take on the New York Yankees live from Spring Training
Meet Braves alumni including Pete Smith, Greg McMichael, and Jim Nash
Register to win Braves prizes, including autographed items, in between every inning
Visit the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, and tour the Braves Dugout and Clubhouse
Play Interactive games in Scout's Alley and Tooner Field
See the Braves Heavy Hitters Drumline perform and meet the Braves Tomahawk Team

"Select A Seat" for the 2009 Season

Fans can find the perfect seat for the 2009 season and give it a test run at the Braves "Select-a-Seat" event during the Braves Open House. Braves Season Ticket Representatives will show fans to their seats so they can sit, relax, and imagine a season of Braves games from that very spot. The Atlanta Braves popular Four-Game Ticket Packs, as well as full season, half season, weekend and flex ticket plans are available now at substantial savings. Popular ticket offers include the "Buy 2 Full Season Tickets, Get 2 Free" (Field Reserved, Golden Moon Casino Club Pavilion and Terrace Reserved Levels) and full season ticket packages for as low as $249. Individual game tickets starting as low as $6 are also on sale now at www.braves.com/tickets.

The Atlanta Braves is Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991. During that time, Braves teams have earned 14 division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are telecast on FS South, SportSouth, and Peachtree TV with radio broadcasts heard in Atlanta on 640 WGST, Project 9-6-1 (96.1 FM) and VIVA 105.7 and regionally on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

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Emory University Men's Track and Field Earn UAA Indoor Honors

Following its championship performance at the 2009 University Athletic Association (UAA) Indoor Track and Field Championship, three groups from the Emory University men’s team have been honored by the UAA. Junior Tyler Faits was named the Most Outstanding Performer for running events, freshman Ian Francis was named the Rookie of the Year, and the Emory coaching staff earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Faits finished first in the 400-meter dash at the UAA Championship last Saturday, winning the event in a time of 49.25 seconds. He followed that with a first-place finish as part of the Eagles 4x400-meter relay, which led the Eagles to a victory at the championship. Faits also finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.38 seconds. Faits’ honor marks the 12th time, and the third-consecutive year, that an Eagle has been named the UAA’s Most Outstanding Indoor Performer. The honor comes after Faits was named the Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Francis competed in a number of field events for the Eagles at the championships, finishing second in the long jump with a distance of 6.66 meters, and second in the triple jump with a mark of 14.16 meters. He joins Faits (2007) and Rob Bullard (2003) as Eagles who have been named the UAA’s Rookie of the Year.

Emory’s coaching staff, consisting of head coach John Curtin, and assistant coaches Carl Leivers, Kevin Semanick, Jim Vahrenkamp, and Pedro Vasquez earned the honor of being the UAA’s Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year. The Eagles’ coaches led the team to their first UAA championship since the 2004 season, and their seventh overall.

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Atlanta Braves Make Spring Roster Moves

The Atlanta Braves trimmed their spring roster by eight players yesterday, optioning four players and re-assigning four others. Right-handed pitchers Steve Marek, James Parr, Todd Redmond and Luis Valdez were optioned to Gwinnett (AAA). Left-handed pitchers Francisley Bueno and Mariano Gomez and catchers Phillip Britton and Matt Kennelly were all re-assigned to minor league camp.

Atlanta now has 44 active players remaining in its Major League camp.

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Outstanding Designs for ATL Race- Voting Open for Road Race T Shirt

Three of the five finalists chosen for the AJC Peachtree Road Race tee shirt design contest are from the University of West Georgia’s Department of Art.

Three of the five finalists in the AJC Peachtree Road Race tee shirt competition are from the University of West Georgia. The winning design will be determined by popular vote online.
Clint Samples, assistant professor of art, and UWG art education majors Tiffany Spencer of LaGrange and Hannah Lucas of Rome, will compete for the coveted honor of having their original design worn by 55,0000 participants in the Peachtree Road Race on July 4.

All five designs were published in the March 15 Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and readers can vote for their favorite tee shirt design online at the ajc.com site. Deadline for voting is April 30, but the winning tee shirt design will not be revealed until race day.

The Atlanta Track Club will feature the five designs online as well as the previous years’ designs on its website at http://www.atlantatrackclub.org/. Online registration for the annual race began on March 15.

“We are very excited to say the least,” said Samples. “These were chosen from more than 200 submissions.”

Four finalists will be awarded $100 and the winning artist and design will receive a $1,000 prize. The students submitted their designs as part of an assignment in a Digital Media for Artist class.

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Thrashers Recall Forward Brett Sterling from Chicago (AHL)

The Atlanta Thrashers have recalled forward Brett Sterling from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

Sterling, 24, is tied for fifth on the Wolves with 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) in 41 games this season. He shares third on the team in goals (16) and is fifth in power play goals (six). The 5-7, 175-pound left wing earned a season-high four points (two goals, two assists) last night vs. Iowa and has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last three games. Sterling, who missed 15 games due to injury from Feb. 6 to March 7, scored a goal in his return to the Wolves lineup on March 8 vs. Peoria. He posted a season-long four-game point streak from Nov. 22-29, recording eight points (four goals, four assists) during that span.

The Los Angeles native began this season with the Thrashers, recording one goal in three games before being assigned to Chicago on Nov. 7. In 16 career NHL games with Atlanta, Sterling has registered four points (two goals, two assists). He has earned 199 points (109 goals, 90 assists) in 188 AHL games with Chicago.

Sterling, who was selected by the Thrashers in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, captured the Dudley “Red” Garrett Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2006-07, following a 97 point (55 goals, 42 assists) rookie campaign. That season Sterling led the AHL in goals, becoming the first rookie to do so since 1989.

Tickets for all regular-season Thrashers games at Philips Arena can be purchased by visiting atlantathrashers.com, calling (800) 326-4000, or by visiting the Philips Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster Ticket Outlet.
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Effort to Ban Technical Swimsuits Underway

/PRNewswire/ -- Swimmers and swimming families, usually a reserved bunch, are in an uproar over expensive, limited-use competition suits that have invaded the pool deck. As the world governing body of aquatic sports (FINA) meets in Dubai (UAE) March 12-14 to discuss whether to amend technical rules regarding competition wear, the swimming world is holding its collective breath to see what the future of the sport will be like. In spite of FINA's Rule SW10.7, "... no swimmer shall use a device that may aid his speed, buoyancy or endurance," technical suits, called equipment by some, were allowed in competition in the past year. As a consequence, 112 world records were smashed in the past year, erasing the extraordinary accomplishments of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen. But what transpired in elite competition pales in comparison to what is going on at the grassroots level. A few examples follow:

-- Swimmers with technical suits cutting seconds off their best time and
beating those less fortunate without a suit
-- Parents huddled around the country in toilet cubicles squeezing their
children into difficult-to-put-on suits
-- Checkbook balances going down because of the cost of the suits
-- High school, club, and university coaches buying suits from other
countries because they aren't available to all
-- Kids peeing in pools and showers because the suits take too long to
put on and take off
-- Coaches training kids to swim differently to get the biggest benefit
from the suit
-- Swimmers being told to gain weight to get the full benefit from the
suit
-- Records earned from hard work being wiped out by athletes wearing the
suits

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Atlanta Braves and Clear Channel Announce Move to Project 9-6-1 for 2009 Games

The Atlanta Braves and Clear Channel have announced that 2009 Braves games will be aired on Project 9-6-1 (96.1 FM) while continuing on 640 WGST. The previous two seasons, games were on their sister station, 94.9 The Bull.

Clear Channel will also air 52 Braves games on VIVA 105.7, broadcasting every Sunday and Tuesday game in Spanish.

The Atlanta Braves is Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991. During that time, Braves teams have earned 14 division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are telecast on FS South, SportSouth, and Peachtree TV with radio broadcasts heard in Atlanta on 640 WGST, Project 9-6-1 (96.1 FM) and VIVA 105.7 and regionally on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.

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University of Georgia Coach Mark Richt to Speak at Christian City's Night of Hope

University of Georgia Football Coach Mark Richt will be the guest speaker at a semi-formal dinner banquet on Thursday, March 5th at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park.

All proceeds from this wonderful evening will benefit the Children’s Village at Christian City. Christian City is a nondenominational nonprofit organization that has been caring for abandoned and abused children in a residential setting since opening the first cottage in 1965. With the help of community support, over 1,000 children have lived at Christian City and have received the benefits of a safe, loving home environment.

Come enjoy an elegant dinner, hear inspiring words from one of the greatest coaches in Georgia’s history, and help give children in need hope for a better future.

A sponsor reception with Coach Richt begins at 6pm followed by dinner at 7pm. Individual tickets as well as table sponsorships are still available. For more information please call 770-703-2636 or access www.christiancity.org.
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Kentucky Derby 135 Tickets Available for Sale Online

(BUSINESS WIRE)--With Kentucky Derby 135 only two months away, Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack that hosts the annual “Run for the Roses,” is pleased to announce that online advance ticket sales for general admission and select reserved seats to the Kentucky Derby and its companion event, Kentucky Oaks 135, are now available at www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/buy.

Selected levels of ticketing, including $40 general admission Kentucky Derby infield tickets and premium Infield Suites and Marquee Village locations, will be available at face value via the new online purchase platform offered by Churchill Downs and TicketReturn. General admission tickets provide the same access that patrons may enjoy by purchasing admission on the morning of the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks, which includes first-level access to the public areas behind the grandstand and clubhouse, as well as infield access. Tickets to the premium Infield Suites and Marquee Village locations offer seats and hospitality, which includes food and beverage service.

“We wanted to make buying tickets to the Derby easier for everyone,” said Mike Mossholder, vice president of sales for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “The new purchasing platform will allow any individual or group to find available ticket packages that perfectly suit their interests and budget. It’s the same concept that’s used to buy concert tickets and many other entertainment event tickets. With minimal effort, Derby-goers can instantaneously select their package and complete the transaction online from the comfort of anywhere they have Internet access.”

“We’re proud to partner with Churchill Downs for this offering of online tickets to the Kentucky Derby,” said Gordon Hirsch, vice president of marketing for TicketReturn. “This is the premier sports entertainment event of the Thoroughbred racing world and a testament to TicketReturn’s fast-growing popularity nationwide.”

The ability to buy tickets online enables Derby-goers to secure available reserved seats or general admission tickets weeks in advance of the Oaks and Derby and plan ahead for a truly special visit to the Derby’s host city, Louisville, Ky. Over the years, the Kentucky Derby experience has evolved into much more than a horse race. The weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby now encompass a whirlwind of special events with a little something for everyone.

The Kentucky Derby Festival, a two-week long, community-wide celebration, is a tremendous draw for tourists from around the country and offers more than 70 family-friendly events – many of them free of charge with Pegasus Pin admission (visit the Kentucky Derby Festival at www.kdf.org for more). Meanwhile, Churchill Downs offers live racing in the days leading up to the Derby with a variety of on-track entertainment options, as well as “Dawn at the Downs,” a chance for race fans to enjoy breakfast under the Twin Spires while watching Derby and Oaks contenders on the track, preparing for their moment in the spotlight.

For more information on the Kentucky Derby and how to purchase ticket packages, please visit www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/tickets/buy.

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