Churchill Meet to Include Race Just for Grays

Folks who like betting the gray horse in every race might have a hard time choosing a favorite in the Gray Ghost at Churchill Downs. The new race, written just for gray horses, is one of a number of changes in the upcoming fall meet. Racing Secretary Doug Bredar has scheduled the first running of the $20,000 "Gray Ghost" as one of the highlights of the Oct. 31 race card. The race is a one mile starter allowance event for grays and roans ages 3-years-old and up. To be eligible for the race, a horse must be gray or roan (a mixture of chestnut and gray) in color and must have competed for a claming price of $8,000 or less in 2001 or 2002.

"Our first running of the 'Gray Ghost' should add some excitement and fun to our Halloween racing card," said Bredar. "We should all strive to have a little fun on that day and we hope this race will be a treat that fans at Churchill Downs and throughout North America will look forward to for years to come."

While the "Gray Ghost" will add some novelty to the Oct. 27-Nov. 30 Fall Meet under the track's venerable Twin Spires, Bredar said the meet's first condition book includes some new races that horseman and fans should find attractive and challenging.

Included in the list of scheduled races are Churchill Downs' first-ever maiden races for 2-year-olds on turf. Other race conditions for the 2002 Fall Meet that have been offered infrequently in past autumn racing sessions include maiden races for 3-year-olds and up on turf and claiming races for horses that have not won two races.

The first Fall Meet condition book is available at the Churchill Downs Racing office or may be viewed on the company's Website at www.churchilldowns.com.