141 Breast And Ovarian Cancer Survivors Selected For 2015 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade Presented By Kroger

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Churchill Downs Racetrack ("CDRT"), home of the Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks, and its charitable beneficiaries Bright Pink® and Horses and Hope today announced the 141 breast and ovarian cancer survivors selected from across the nation to walk in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade Presented by Kroger with supporting sponsor Kindred Healthcare.

The seventh annual Survivors Parade is a march along Churchill Downs' historic homestretch to drive awareness of ovarian and breast health and champions all those whose lives have been impacted by breast and ovarian cancer. The seventh annual Survivors Parade will take place immediately prior to the running of the 141^st running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for 3-year-old fillies on Friday, May 1, 2015, the day before the famous Kentucky Derby. 

The 141 survivors were selected through a national six-week online process in which the public nominated and voted for the individuals they wished to see represent all survivors of breast and ovarian cancer in the Survivors Parade. More than 1 million people voted in this year's process, a 345 percent increase from last year. A total of 541 survivors were nominated, up 24 percent from 2014. The 141 survivors selected come from cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; Weymouth, Mass.; and Louisville, Ky.

The online process also allows the public to donate to Bright Pink®, a national breast and ovarian cancer organization, through the Kentucky Derby weekend. The process has raised nearly $20,000 this year, a 270 percent increase from 2014.

The public may read the survivors' stories and make donations to Bright Pink through May 2, 2015 at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors.

"We are pleased by the dramatic increase of support from across the country for the Survivors Parade," said Ryan Jordan, General Manager of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "The Survivors Parade has become one of the Kentucky Derby's most important traditions, helping us drive national awareness and raise critical funds for important health issues. We look forward to walking with the 141 survivors in this year's Survivors Parade."

The Survivors Parade is part of Churchill Downs' Longines Kentucky Oaks seventh annual Pink Out, during which the track conducts fundraising, provides outreach and drives national breast and ovarian health awareness. Churchill Downs has donated more than $620,000 to breast cancer organizations through the Pink Out celebration during the past seven years.

"Bright Pink is grateful to be a part of this beautiful tribute and to receive such meaningful support from the Kentucky Oaks community," said Lindsay Avner, Founder and CEO of Bright Pink. "We hope that the 141 breast and ovarian cancer survivors will walk tall and proud, knowing that Churchill Downs and Bright Pink are committed to the prevention and early detection of these diseases for generations to come." 

The Kentucky Oaks 141 Survivors

Missy Mars – Lexington, KY
Suki Avery – Los Angeles, CA
Cat Logan – Mount Sherman, KY
Bonita Carter – Shiloh, IL
Michele Middleton – Nashville, TN
Lorene Ward – Lancaster, KY
Pamela Snead – Grundy, VA
Lesa Rahschulte – Ludlow, KY
Bonnie Esterle – Crestwood, KY
Annie Roution – Springfield, KY
Sherri Barney – Albany, KY
Guyanna Ackison – Pittsburgh, PA
Holly Westbrook– Campbellsville, KY
Lori Lober – Kansas City, MO
Lyla McGlinchey – Liberty Township, OH
Sara Pollett – Louisville, KY
Angie Durnwald – Fremont, OH
Janet Newton – Paoli, IN
Carla Cissell – Mt. Washington, KY
Coleen Klensch – Edgewood, KY
Diana Garrett – Bowling Green, KY
Lisa Riley – Glasgow, KY
Tammi Poole – Louisville, KY
Susie Stockinger – Duluth, MN
Ellen Zehnder – Shelbyville, KY
Calinda Young – Louisville, KY
Carolyn Sullivan – New Durham, NH
Elise Sulick – Byron, MI
Judy Kalbhin – Louisville, KY
Cindy Crabtree – Louisville, KY
Karen Grayson – Charlestown, IN
Linda Herp – Louisville, KY
Susan Lindsey – Avon Park, FL
Brenda Skelton – Muskego, WI
Susan Morrison – LaGrange KY
Jeri Graham – Aurora, CO
Patti Conway – Edgewood, KY
Stephanie Virgin – Louisville, KY
Cindy Poeschl – Lincoln, NE
Diana Adams – Shelbyville, KY
Linda Maciag – St. Clair Shores, MI
Jessica Hayes – Louisville, KY
Trina Amos – Henryville, IN
Paula, McCarty – Ashcamp, KY
Brittany Duran – Clarksville, IN
Lisa Belanger – Weymouth, MA
Nancy Wojcik – Crown Point, IN
Donna Thompson – Mt. Washington, KY
Beverly Hennegan – Jeffersonville, IN
Michele Scheldorf – Louisville, KY
Lynette Murphy – Mesa, AZ
Geraldine Pascute – Bristolville, OH
Megan Wilkins – Winchester, KY
Ruthie Barker – Benton, KY
Samantha Courtney – Hendersonville, TN
Kelly Heavrin – New Albany, IN
Helen Roggenkamp – Fisherville, KY
Tami Parker – Roanoke, IN
Diana Pierce – Jeffersonville, IN
Ronda Ashenfelter – Tye, TX
Julie Hall – Clinton, MA
Deana Lichtey – Mt. Washington, KY
Christina Bender – Lima, OH
Michelle Hayes – New Haven, KY
Alexis George – Lebanon, KY
Tilka Marzolf – Shelbyville, KY
Jia Lindsay – Huntsville, AL
Sarah Sorg – Ft. Wayne, IN
Karen Kampschaefer – Louisville, KY
Shawn Temple – Lanesville, IN
Patti Rucker – Seymour, IN
Diana Koonce – Lawrenceburg, KY
Laurie Lucas – Northville, MI
Patti Marrinan – Edina, MN
Cindy Mann – Crestwood, KY
Wilma Morris Smith – Asheville, NC
Teresa Baker – Louisville, KY
Amy Mosier – Austin, TX
Suzanne Brown – Northport, AL
Harlie Corneliusen – Salol, MN
Diana Braun – Carmel, IN
Nydia Bors – Shelbyville, KY
Meredith Esarey – Louisville, KY
Janet Galvin – Vine Grove, KY
Una Goosey – Louisville, KY
Kim Muncy – Shepherdsville, KY
Emily Caudill – Clarkson, KY
Annette Wachtel – Louisville, KY
Vicki Dawley – Hodgenville, KY
Pixy Jones – Louisville, KY
Emily Tisheuar – Louisville, KY
Tonya Higdon – Versailles, KY
Colleen Zimmerman – Platteville, WI
Hope Proctor – Louisville, KY
Carol Fogle – Elizabethtown, KY
Anita Wetter – Owingsville, KY
Wanda Hall – Jeffersonville, IN
Angela Bertholf – Frankfort, KY
Susie Keys – Brandenburg, KY
Melissa Gross – Shepherdsville, KY
Patty Holleran – Elizabethtown, KY
Della Eaves – Burkesville, KY
Mary Cooksey – Louisville, KY
Donna Duvall – Louisville, KY
Lee Hoegler – Louisville, KY
Reanna Smith-Hamblin – Louisville, KY
Suzie Stammer – Lexington, KY
Trish Shaver – Louisville, KY
Melissa Pratt – Shelbyville, KY
Ina Bice – Punta Gorda, FL
Alecia Graves – Crestwood, KY
Tammy Shrode – Louisville, KY
Pam Cox – Owensboro, KY
Pamela Stevens – Floyds Knobs, IN
Dawn Kelty – New Albany, IN
Wilma Fugate – Scottsburg, IN
Yvonne Trapp – Taylorsville, KY
Brenda Bosse – Louisville, KY
Kyann Cummings – Corydon, IN
Debbie Stone – Louisville, KY
Ceal Vish – Louisville, KY
Sandy Hazelrig – Louisville, KY
Tanja Smith– North Platte, NE
Kimberly Vinegar– Louisville, KY
Virginia Roby Head – Bardstown, KY
Peggy Igleheart – Louisville, KY
Stephanie King – St. Augustine, FL
Kimberly Gronefeld – Louisville, KY
Hugh Campbell – Louisville, KY
Sandra Followay – Louisville, KY
Kathy Deaves – Crestwood, KY
Phyllis Lee – LaGrange, KY
Jill Tanner – Owensboro, KY
Diane Glynn – Louisville, KY
Ashley Wilkerson – Owensboro, KY
Ronna Nichter – Louisville, KY
Delisha Forte – Louisville, KY
Mary Ann Storch – Louisville, KY
Elizabeth Nahra – Lexington, KY
Lori Glass – Louisville, KY
Sheryll Barnett – Louisville, KY

About Churchill Downs Racetrack
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), which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 141^st running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 2, 2015. The track's 2015 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 25-June 27. The track has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.

About the Longines Kentucky Oaks
With a $1 million guaranteed purse, the Longines Kentucky Oaks is the most lucrative American horse race for 3-year-old fillies, and the fourth most attended day of racing in the U.S. – only behind the Triple Crown's Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Twenty-seven Oaks winners have been crowned North America's champion 3-year-old filly. The purse reflects the Oaks' status and importance as a sports and entertainment event. The race has attracted crowds in excess of 100,000 in 14 of the last 15 years, including an unprecedented 116,046 in 2010, and set wagering records in 2013 with more than $14.2 million bet on the race and $45.8 million bet on the entire Oaks 12-race program.

About Longines
Longines has been based at Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832. Its watchmaking expertise reflects a strong devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. Longines has generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as partner of international sports federation. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of the Swatch Group Ltd, the World's leading manufacturer of horological products. With the winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in over 140 countries.

About Bright Pink
Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization focused on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. The organization's mission is to save women's lives from breast and ovarian cancer by empowering them to live proactively at a young age. Bright Pink's innovative programs educate, equip, and empower young women to be proactive by reducing their risk for breast and ovarian cancer, or detecting these diseases at early, non-life-threatening stages. Founded by Lindsay Avner in 2007, Bright Pink strives to reach the 52 million women in the U.S. between the ages of 18-45 with this life-saving education. Learn more at BrightPink.org.

About Horses and Hope
Founded in 2008 by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear and the Kentucky Cancer Program, Horses and Hope helps provide breast cancer awareness, education and early detection and treatment referral in Kentucky's horse racing industry. Utilizing its pink stable of volunteers, the organization focuses on programs at Kentucky's four thoroughbred race tracks to provide education and outreach for race fans and track workers. This is the sixth year Churchill Downs has donated a portion of Grey Goose Oaks Lily® sales to the charity.

About Kroger
Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,631 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.  The company also operates 783 convenience stores, 325 fine jewelry stores, 1,293 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S.  Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club. For more information please visit kroger.com.  Kroger's Louisville Division operates 98 stores in Kentucky, southern Indiana and southern Illinois.  

About Kindred Healthcare
Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a top-85 private employer in the United States, is a FORTUNE 500 healthcare services company based in Louisville, Kentucky with revenues of approximately $7.2 billion.¹ At September 30, 2014, on a pro forma basis to include Gentiva and Centerre, Kindred through its subsidiaries had approximately 105,200 employees providing healthcare services in 2,880 locations in 47 states, including 97 transitional care hospitals, 16 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, 99 nursing centers, 22 sub-acute units, 645 Kindred at Home hospice, home health and non-medical home care locations, 102 inpatient rehabilitation units (hospital-based) and a contract rehabilitation services business, RehabCare, which served 1,899 non-affiliated facilities. Ranked as one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Healthcare Companies for six years in a row, Kindred's mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve. For more information, go to www.kindredhealthcare.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

¹Revenues were computed by combining the twelve months ended September 30, 2014 data for Kindred, Gentiva Health Services, Inc. ("Gentiva"), which was acquired by the Company on February 2, 2015, and Centerre Healthcare Corporation ("Centerre"), which was acquired by the Company on January 1, 2015.

SOURCE Churchill Downs

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