Horse Racing
WOODFORD RESERVE® BOURBON TO SPONSOR TURF CLASSIC ON DERBY DAY
By Rick Bubenhofer
Apr 17, 2008, 12:08

Woodford Reserve®, one of America’s fastest growing bourbons, is proud to return as sponsor of the 22nd running of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, the race immediately preceding the running of the Kentucky Derby®. The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic is one of only four Grade I races taking place at Churchill Downs® during Derby week. The 1 1/8th mile turf race carries a record purse of $500,000, and is for three-year-olds and up. The race will broadcast live on ESPN.

“Woodford Reserve is proud to sponsor such a distinguished race at Churchill Downs on Derby Day,” said Nick Nelson, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “As the only bourbon distillery to have its own stable of race horses, we are proud to be associated with such a superior group of Thoroughbreds.”

The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic annually attracts many of America’s finest turf horses. The race debuted in 1987 and was won by Manila, the reigning American turf champion and winner of the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf. A major springtime race, it has been a Grade I event since 1998.

Other competitors of the Turf Classic included a veritable who’s who of turf champions such as Paradise Creek, winner of the 1994 Turf Classic during his Eclipse Award-winning campaign, and Sky Classic, the 1992 runner-up to Cudas in that year’s Turf Classic. Last year’s winner Sky Conqueror overcame a stumbling beginning by unleashing a furious stretch kick under jockey Javier Castellano to get up in the final strides and win by a nose over Brilliant. It was the sixth victory in 15 career starts for Sky Conqueror, a Canadian-bred 5-year-old son of Sky Classic owned and bred by William Sorokolit Sr. and trained by Darwin Banach.

“Woodford Reserve has been proud to sponsor racing on three continents — Europe, Australia, and the United States,” said Nelson. “We are especially thrilled to be a part of one of the signature events in American racing, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, and to be known as the official bourbon of thoroughbred racing.”

Woodford Reserve has served as the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby” for the past ten years. This year’s Turf Classic and Derby will take place May 3, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky.


About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve, the “Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby”, is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky – the heart of thoroughbred country. Woodford Reserve is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman Corporation, a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla wines, and Korbel California Champagnes. Enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2008.



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