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Derby Fans Favor "All Others" At Close Of Final Pool Of Churchill Downs' 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager
By: John Asher

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 4, 2004) - After weekend prep races failed to clear a murky Kentucky Derby picture, fans throughout North America failed to settle on a favorite for the "Run for the Roses" and instead made the mutuel field the people's choice in the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW").

The wagering interest that included all 3-year-old Thoroughbreds other than the pool's 22 remaining individual horses stood as a solid 6-1 choice when wagering closed on Sunday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. (EDT). The result marked the first time in the wager's six-year history that "all others" was favored in the final pool. Betting on Eurosilver (#5) was suspended on Thursday when was pulled from consideration for the Derby.

Betting during Pool 3's four-day run totaled $386,244, which lifted the combined wagering for this year's pools to $1,282,168 - the third-highest total in the Derby Future history. The Pool 3 total included $201,428 wagered during its final hours on Sunday.

The mutuel field has been favored in Pool 1 in each of the Future Wager's six years, but odds on that wagering interest had traditionally climbed by Pool 3 as major contenders asserted themselves in Derby prep races. But this year's preps have produced a parade of longshots and unpredictable finishes, which have left the Derby scene without a dominant contender and sent fans scrambling to "all others" in the Future Wager. This weekend's preps continued the trend as none of the four winners - Castledale in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), Pollard's Vision in the Illinois Derby (GII), Kaufy Mate in the Aventura at Gulfstream Park, and Bwana Charlie in Sunday's Lafayette (GIII) at Keeneland - were listed among the individual betting interests in Pool 3 of the Future Wager, so all were included with "all others" in the mutuel field. Kaufy Mate and Bwana Charlie are not nominated to the Kentucky Derby and Visa Triple Crown.

Of the 22 remaining individual horses in the pool, Derby fans threw their strongest support to Someday Farm's Smarty Jones, an unbeaten son of Elusive Quality and the likely favorite in next week's Arkansas Derby (GII). Smarty Jones had not been included among the individual betting interests in this year previous pair of Derby Futures pools, but closed as a clear 10-1 second choice in the final pool.

Derby fans also displayed strong backing on Pool 3's closing day for the Bobby Frankel-trained Master David, who stood as the 12-1 third choice after he started the day at 18-1. Willmott Stable's Eddington was next at 13-1. Rock Hard Ten, disqualified from second to third in his stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby, came next at 14-1, and Imperialism, awarded second at Santa Anita following interference by Rock Hard Ten, stood at 15-1. Wimbledon, Lion Heart, The Cliff's Edge and Borrego all closed at 16-1.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager allows racing fans to bet on contenders for the "Run for the Roses" weeks in advance of the race at odds that could be more attractive than those they receive on Derby Day. It is a $2 minimum wager and is a win bet only. There are 24 wagering interests in each KDFW pool, which include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field that contains all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds - regardless of whether those horses are nominated to the Kentucky Derby and the Visa Triple Crown. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

More information on the Kentucky Derby and the 2004 Kentucky Derby Future Wager is available the Internet at www.kentuckyderby.com.

2004 KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER - POOL 3 (FINAL DAY)

(#) Wagering Interest	Final Odds
1. Action This Day	16-1
2. Birdstone	19-1
3. Borrego	16-1
4. Eddington	13-1
5. Eurosilver	SCR
6. Friends Lake*	22-1
7. Imperialism	15-1
8. Limehouse	28-1
9. Lion Heart	16-1
10. Master David	12-1
11. Minister Eric	27-1
12. Preachinatthebar*	20-1
13. Quintons Gold Rush*	76-1
14. Read The Footnotes	17-1
15. Rock Hard Ten	14-1
16. Sinister G*	64-1
17. Smarty Jones*	10-1
18. Song of the Sword*	77-1
19. St Averil	26-1
20. Tapit	23-1
21. The Cliff's Edge	16-1
22. Value Plus	25-1
23. Wimbledon	16-1
24. All Other 3YO's	6-1

* -- New wagering interest in Pool 3

Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) also operates Trackside Louisville, an off-track betting and training facility. Churchill Downs will conduct the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2004. The track will conduct its 2004 Spring Meet from April 24-July 5. Churchill Downs has served as host to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships a record five times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Statistics

Wagering (by year)	Pool 1	Pool 2	Pool 3	Total
2004	$536,958	$358,966	$386,244	$1,282,168
2003	$516,906	$391,002	$222,261	$1,130,169
2002	$577,889***	$401,070	$524,847	$1,503,806
2001	$510,815	$372,961	$425,871	$1,309,647
2000	$465,454	$306,259	$387,206	$1,158,919
1999	$267,748	$178,811	$229,674	$676,233

Winning payout	Pool 1	Pool 2	Pool 3	Derby payout
2004 (Smarty Jones)	$5.60	$10.80	$23.60	$10.20
2003 (Funny Cide)	$188.00****	$120.80	$107.40	$27.60
2002 (War Emblem*)	$7.60	$16.00	$24.00	$43.00
2001 (Monarchos)	$36.60	$13.00	$15.80	$23.00
2000 (Fusaichi Pegasus)	$27.80	$26.40	$8.00**	$6.60
1999 (Charismatic*)	$10.20**	$30.20	$26.60	$64.60

* - Charismatic (1999) and War Emblem (2002) were members of the mutuel field in all three pools in their respective years
** - Favorite
*** - Single pool wagering record
****Record KDFW win payout