Mystik Dan Wins the Historic 150th Running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve

New All-Time Handle Record Set for the Kentucky Derby Race, Kentucky Derby Day Program, and Kentucky Derby Week Races

LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) (the “Company”, “CDI”) announced today that a jubilant crowd of nearly 157,000 Derby fans gathered at Churchill Downs Racetrack (“Churchill Downs”) to celebrate and witness Mystik Dan claim the Garland of Roses at the 150^th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at 18-1 odds under mostly cloudy skies. Wagering from all sources was the highest all-time on the Kentucky Derby race, the Kentucky Derby Day program, and Kentucky Derby Week races.

Mystik Dan, owned by 4 G Racing, LLC (Brent Gasaway), Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, III, and Valley View Farm, LLC (Scott Hamby), trained by Kenneth McPeek, bred in Kentucky by Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4 G Racing, LLC, and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., rallied from off the pace to win by a nose in a photo finish. Mystik Dan covered the mile and a quarter in 2:03.34 over a fast track. This marks an extraordinary weekend of racing for trainer Kenneth McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. who scored victories in both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

Wagering from all sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program set a new record of $320.5 million, beating last year’s record of $288.7 million. All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $210.7 million, beating the previous record of $188.7 million set in 2023. All-sources handle for Derby Week rose to a new record of $446.6 million, beating last year’s record of $412.0 million.

TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, handled a new record of $92.1 million in wagering on Churchill Downs races for the Kentucky Derby Day program, compared to last year’s record of $75.5, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering. TwinSpires’ handle on the Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $60.9 million, beating last year’s record of $48.9 million, including all settled future wagers and affiliate wagering.

The Kentucky Derby race continued to attract global attention with two starters from Japan with Forever Young finishing third and T O Password finishing fifth. Forever Young was the winner of the UAE Derby in Dubai and T O Password qualified through the Japan Road to the Derby. All-sources wagering from Japan on the Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $10.1 million, beating the previous record of $8.3 million in 2022.