Crown Royal Festival in the Field Set for Derby Week

Crown Royal Festival in the Field Set for Derby Week

Classic Rock Band KANSAS to Headline

NEW YORK, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Plans are finalized for the 10th annual Crown Royal Festival in the Field, a two-day celebration on the turf at Churchill Downs, May 3 and 4. This year's featured entertainment is the classic American rock band, KANSAS.

Fans who gather in the infield will enjoy two days of music and a full race schedule against the backdrop of Churchill Downs and its historic Twin Spires. Along with the music, there will be easy access to betting windows, concession stands and restrooms. Concertgoers can also enjoy a close-up look at all the day's racing action on Jumbotron video screens.

Admission to the Crown Royal Festival in the Field on Thursday, May 3, is free with $2 paid track admission ($1 for Twin Spires Club members). Gates open at 11 a.m. and post time for the first of the day's 11 races is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. KANSAS, along with regional favorites, the Big Rock Show and Bonepony, will play in the infield. Music begins at 12 noon.

KANSAS recorded two monumental albums -- 1976's Leftoverture and the next year's Point of Know Return produced the hit singles "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind." Kansas has a full tour schedule in 2007 celebrating the 30-year anniversary of Point of Know Return, and promoting their 2006 album "Works in Progress."

On Friday, Kentucky Oaks Day, the music begins at 10:30 a.m. featuring local bands Alpha Q, The Names, and the Jimmy David Band. The event is free with paid $25 track admission. Churchill Downs' admission gates open at 8 a.m. on Oaks Day and post time for the first of the day's 11 races is set for 11 a.m.

"There is nothing quite like the infield at Churchill Downs. The atmosphere is super-charged among the thousands and thousands of revelers," said Greg Leonard, Director of PR and Events for Diageo North American Whiskies. "We are excited to once again bring in top talent and complement the fantastic day of racing and the fine sport of people-watching."

In addition to hosting the Festival in The Field, Diageo, the proud owner of the Crown Royal brand, will celebrate the 16th running of the $150,000-added Crown Royal American Turf Race on Friday, May 4 which is run immediately prior to the historic Kentucky Oaks. The Grade III, 1 1/16-mile grass race for three-year-old thoroughbreds is one of the marquee races of the Kentucky Oaks Day racing program. In 2006, Steam Cat, under jockey Julian Leparoux, closed with a fury in the last 50 yards to win by a neck over Go Between. The race will be televised nationally on ESPN (3-5 p. m. EST). Post time for the race is set for 4:47 p.m. EST.

Source: Diageo North America

CONTACT: Greg Leonard, +1-646-223-2111, or Mike Manning,
+1-720-936-3996, both for Diageo North America

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