For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
LONE STAR LOADED WITH ACTIVITIES ON KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND
138th Run For the Roses, NBA Playoff Action, Mayweather vs. Cotto PPV
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Tuesday, May 1, 2012) – If you can’t be at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, the next best place is Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. Kentucky Derby Day at Lone Star Park on Saturday, May 5 is always one of the busiest days of the Spring Thoroughbred Season, filled with plenty of fanfare.
The usual Derby Day crowd is a mix of novices and serious horseplayers who share a common goal – to pick the Derby winner and cash a ticket. At approximately 5:24 p.m. between live races, the crowd will focus their attention on the infield JumboTron as 20 of the world’s top 3-year-olds enter the starting gate for their grueling 1 ¼-mile “Run for the Roses.” When the gates open 800 miles away in Louisville, a loud roar from the Lone Star Park crowd can be heard throughout Grand Prairie – evidence that the Derby is truly the most exciting two minutes in sports.
But even before the big race is run, Lone Star Park will be bustling with activity. In addition to the live racing, there’ll be live music and entertainment.
What’s a Derby without a lavish hat? Lone Star Park honors the longstanding Derby tradition by offering two $500 grand prizes. One for most stylish and one for most creative hats worn that day. Past winners have been those dawning frilly fascinators, strange sombreros and everything in between. A panel of area celebrities will decide the winners, so style and originality count. Judging begins at 3:00 p.m. the saddling paddock.
In the Courtyard of Champions, there will be live music between races, from 1-5 p.m., by Roof Raisers.
For the youngsters on hand, the Family Fun Park will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with pony rides, bounce houses and a petting zoo.
For serious horseracing fans, the day begins early when the only sports bar with wagering, the Bar & Book, opens it’s doors at 9:00 a.m. With over thirty minutes before the first simulcast race from Churchill Downs, that leaves plenty of time for a head start on handicapping the races. Grandstand gates open at 10:30 a.m.
The first of 10 live races is 1:35 p.m. CT and the final race will go off at about 6:18 p.m.
Can’t make it to the races that day? Lone Star Park will offer advance wagering on the Kentucky Derby all day Friday, May 4, and Drive-Thru Wagering at Gate 2 will be open all afternoon on Derby Day starting at 8:00
a.m.
Bar & Book After Dark
Looking for after Derby action? We have it and your paid admission for live racing gets you in our simulcast facility for free! Join us in the Bar & Book to watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at 6:30 p.m. Wait, there’s more! We will be showing the Mayweather vs. Cotto WBA Super Welterweight championship fight live on Pay-Per-View! The Main event will feature Floyd “Money” Mayweather challenging Miguel Cotto for his WBA Super Welterweight World Championship.* Plus, we’ll have all the evening simulcast horse racing from around the country.
The Bar & Book features over 500 HD televisions including three huge projector screens in the spacious Sports Bar. Don’t miss a layup, punch or horse race all day and night! Thirsty? Bar & Book offers over 60 beers, 12 on draft and a menu that features everything from huge, delicious burgers to sensational buffalo wings to Fat Elvis Fries! Why would you go anywhere else?
Here’s a recap of the major timelines of activities for Kentucky Derby Day at Lone Star Park:
WHEN:
8:00 a.m.—Drive-Thru Wagering Opens.
9:00 a.m.—Bar & Book Opens for Simulcast Wagering.
9:30 a.m.—First Simulcast Race from Churchill Downs.
10:30 a.m.—Grandstand Gates Open.
11:30 a.m.—Family Fun Park Opens with a petting zoo, bounce houses and pony rides.
1:35 p.m.—First post time of 10 live races at Lone Star Park.
3:00 p.m.—Kentucky Derby Hat Contest in the Saddling Paddock.
5:24 p.m.—138th running of the Kentucky Derby simulcast live from Churchill Downs.
6:18 p.m.—Race #10 at Lone Star Park approximate post time.
6:30 p.m.—Game #4 NBA Playoff Action: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Tip-Off from
American Airlines Center.**
8:00 p.m.—Mayweather vs. Cotto WBA Super Welterweight Championship Pay-Per-View Telecast
Begins.
*$20 minimum per person cover charge applies after 8 p.m.;**Check local listings for exact time.
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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Global Gaming Solutions LLC, offers a53-day 2012 Spring Thoroughbred Season which opens Thursday, April 12 and concludes on Sunday, July 8. Live racing will be held four days a week, Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m.
(except Thursday, May 31 and Thursday, July 5 when there will be no live racing), and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The racing program on
Memorial Day, May 28, will start at 1:35 p.m. Special twilight programs will be held at 5 p.m. on both Tuesday, July 3 (with post-race concert by award-winning country artist Pat Green) and Wednesday, July 4 (with the Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration).
The track’s 26-day, 2012 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses will be held from Sept. 14 to Nov. 10.
Lone Star Park is also home to the multi-million dollar simulcast racebook, sports bar and event venue, Bar & Book. The 36,000 square foot venue is open to the public 363 days a year.
For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com
Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP. Global Gaming Solutions, LLC, is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.
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