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Churchill Downs Implements Additional Wagering Security Measures

The additional measures are being instituted in response to the current investigation surrounding the Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6 wager and to allow adequate time for all wagering information and final odds on CDI races - from on-track and off-track sources - to be collected and tabulated within the racetracks' on-site tote hubs prior to the official start of each race.

Effective with the start of live racing at CDI racetracks on Wednesday, Nov. 13, all mutuel pools accepting wagers on CDI racing will close prior to the official start of the race. This applies to all wagers made on track by customers viewing CDI live racing as well as all wagers made on CDI racing through off-track venues, including other racetracks with simulcast-wagering facilities, OTBs and account-wagering systems. Pools on CDI races will close at zero ("0") minutes to post - or approximately one (1) minute before horses are loaded into the starting gate.

Also effective Nov. 13, tote hubs at CDI racetracks will no longer accept into their co-mingled mutuel pools wagers placed through account-wagering services that do not currently make recordings of touch-tone wagering transactions, providing an audit trail from the time the wager is placed. Wagers will continue to be accepted from account-wagering providers that do have equipment - or established protocols - to record wagers at the time they are made.

CDI also joins all other NTRA-affiliated licensed racetracks in implementing a third interim security measure, which calls for any winning simulcast wager involving multiple races (i.e. Pick 4-9, superfectas) to be subject to review by the relevant racing organizations. Any wager deemed irregular or otherwise questionable will be thoroughly reviewed with supporting detail provided by the tote company or companies involved.

The new interim security measures announced today are the latest in a series of proactive steps CDI and its racetracks have taken over the past two weeks to ensure the integrity of its vendors wagering systems. On Nov. 1, CDI launched a Company-wide audit of existing security procedures at its racetrack tote hubs to ensure that internal controls - including personnel, protections and access to logs - were being maintained and to ensure the physical security of all on-site tote facilities. The audit also involved background checks on all on-site tote and racetrack employees with access to tote facilities.

CDI officials also met with executives and technical advisors of the nation's three tote companies on Nov. 6 to discuss current concerns and ways to improve upon internal controls and security measures already within their respective wagering systems.

Additionally, CDI continues to support the Wagering Technology Working Group established by the NTRA to build an industry-wide action plan to address tote system security issues. Several CDI officers are serving as members of the Working Group's individual committees.

"All CDI pari-mutuel facilities are implementing these measures - in addition to the security measures being implemented by all racetracks affiliated with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association - to ensure the integrity of wagers placed on our racing products through the various wagering platforms available," said Meeker. "We have a duty to our customers and those who invest in our Company to institute these safeguards, given the current concerns about tote systems security. We believe these are prudent steps to take in the short-term as the horseracing industry as a whole looks for long- term answers to the questions raised by recent events.

"The additional wagering security measures we are implementing will involve a departure from many operating procedures we have observed for decades - changes our on- and off-track customers may find disconcerting at first," Meeker continued. "CDI and its employees are committed to helping educate both veteran and novice race fans and horsemen - our partners in the pari-mutuel industry - about these changes to affect a smooth transition to our new operating procedures."

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