Thoroughbred Charities of America selected Charitable Partner of Churchill Downs-

Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup Program

Louisville-Ky, April 16, 2007- The stakes are even higher at the 2007 Kentucky Derby – not on the track but at the bar. Churchill Downs and Woodford Reserve Bourbon will once again sell the world's most expensive mint julep cup, available only on May 5, Kentucky Derby Day. This year, Christie's Auction House will oversee the on-line auction and with more cups, more previous jewels and the opportunity to bid on-line for select cups, the $1,000 Mint Julep is bigger and better than ever before. All proceeds from the cups will benefit Thoroughbred Charities of America, to assist retired horses, jockey programs and equine disease research.

There will be 132 24-kt gold-plated cups for sale, each presented with a silver sipping straw.  119 of them are adorned with a horse head burgee and engraved with the names of past Kentucky Derby winners.  11 of the cups have three rare rubies representing each leg of the Triple Crown.  Two others have a diamond and are called, "Aristides" and "Barbaro", after the first and most recent Derby winner, respectively.

Order your Woodford Reserve Mint Julep soon because they are sure to run out, by visiting www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com