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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 3, 2006) - The "Road to the Roses" Fantasy Challenge, an online fantasy sports game that allows racing fans to manage a stable of Kentucky Derby contenders, will open for registration on Sunday, Feb. 5. Located at www.roadtotheroses.com, the game's 2006 grand prize winner will receive a VIP trip for two to the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby in 2007.

Now in its ninth year, the "Road to the Roses" Fantasy Challenge is presented by TicketCity.com and is hosted by Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI"), the parent company of Churchill Downs racetrack. "Road to the Roses" players earn points based on how well their fantasy stable performs during the spring prep races leading up to and including the May 6 Kentucky Derby.

"The Road to the Roses Fantasy Challenge is free to play, and is a fun and challenging way for fans to participate in the excitement of the Kentucky Derby prep season," said Tim Scott, senior vice president of marketing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. "The game has been very successful in years past and is an excellent way to link our online initiatives with our premiere racing product, the Kentucky Derby."

Players create their fantasy stables by selecting ten horses from the complete list of Triple Crown nominees, as well as two trainers and two jockeys. Stables earns points based on how well they perform in a series of 31 Kentucky Derby prep races, beginning with the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 11 and continuing through the Kentucky Derby itself. Stables must select five "active" horses for each weekend of prep races and can add additional horses later in the season.

The player who earns the most points at the end of the game will receive a VIP trip for two to the 2007 Kentucky Derby, including airfare and hotel accommodations, a private backstretch tour, a trip to the paddock on Derby Day, and VIP passes to the Derby press party. Other prizes include a 30" plasma flat-screen TV courtesy of Gateway, a Gateway desktop computer, and limited edition Derby 132 jackets.

Also, a $500 Kentucky Derby wagering voucher will be given away weekly to the player who earns the most points each weekend. One of the game's exciting new features in 2006 is the "Create Your Own League" option, allowing registered players to compete not only in the overall game, but also in private leagues comprised of friends, colleagues, family members, or whomever the player wishes to include. The leagues, which are unlimited in size and quantity, allow for a more personalized experience for each individual player.

As in years past, players will benefit from weekly newsletters updating them on the latest Derby prep season news, and also have the option of accessing a special "Stable Support Center," which is viewable to those players who are registered Twin Spires Club members. Players will also be able to compare their stables to those of horse racing experts and media celebrities in the "Meet the Pros" competition.

Go to the Road To The Roses Homepage for complete game details.

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