$1,000 Mint Julep Cup Auction for Charity Heats Up.

Six Days Left to Bid, Barbaro and Secretariat Neck-and-Neck for Top Prize

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- With six days left to bid, the race is on for the most expensive mint julep cup ever to be sold at Churchill Downs[R] on Kentucky Derby[R] Day. Hundreds of people have already logged on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase, bid or simply observe the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sale and auction conducted by Woodford Reserve, the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, and supervised by Christie's, the world's leading art business. Sales of and auction bidding for these 132 exclusive mint julep cups, each designated with the name of a Kentucky Derby winner, launched April 17.

Nearly half of the beautiful gold-plated cups sold within the first five hours of the April 17 launch, and a total of 67 cups have been purchased as of 9:00 a.m.(EDT) today (April 26). Not surprisingly, the cups featuring the most recent Derby winners sold first, but there are still 42 cups available for on-line purchase, including those featuring 1981 winner Pleasant Colony, 1959 winner Tomy Lee, 1952 winner Hill Gail, 1950 winner Middleground, and the 1933 winner Brokers Tip, victorious in the famous "fighting finish" between jockeys Don Meade (aboard the winner) and Herb Fisher on second place finisher Head Play. At least ten cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day at the Lower Jockey Club bars.

In addition, all 13 cups up for auction, including the Triple Crown[R] winners and the first and last Kentucky Derby winners, have received bids, with action expected to pick up in the days before the May 1 closing of the auction.

"The $1,000 Mint Julep cup promotion is a win-win for everyone involved," said Wayne Rose, brand director for Woodford Reserve. "In the case of the Barbaro cup, the winning bidder will not only take home a treasured keepsake, they will also fund laminitis research to help prevent other horses from suffering Barbaro's fate."

Proceeds from the cups will go to the Thoroughbred Charities of America to benefit laminitis research, retired thoroughbreds and injured jockeys. It was laminitis that ultimately claimed the lives of both Barbaro and Secretariat, so it is fitting that the auction cups bearing their names have received the highest bids so far.

While all of the auction cups have received bids, two of the Kentucky Derby darlings, Barbaro and Secretariat, are neck and neck for top honors. Barbaro, a 24-kt gold-plated cup with a single diamond, has a high bid of $1650 and the current top bid for the Secretariat cup, a 24-kt gold-plated cup with three rubies, is $1700. The auction will run through May 1, noon EST. Sales of the remaining Kentucky Derby winners cups which are bought on a first-come, first-buy basis at www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com will run through May 4, noon EST.

"We are very encouraged by the online bidding for the 13 cups so far in the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup auction. With just under a week to go, we expect to see more bidding, especially as the deadline approaches, and we look forward to announcing the top cups sold during the preparations for the 133rd Kentucky Derby," said Cathy Elkies, Christie's Director of Special Sales.

Not your standard julep 

Owners of the Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep cup will have the opportunity to have their cups filled with lush mint from the coast of Ireland, organic sugar from Queensland, Australia, ice from the Bavarian Alps and a special selection of Woodford Reserve available nowhere else but Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day. New England Sterling, the official trophy maker of the Kentucky Derby, created 132 gold-plated cups for sale, along with an exclusive sterling silver sipping straw.

Last year, the highly successful $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program raised $50,000 for retired thoroughbreds, and this year the number of julep cups for sale has more than doubled to 132. The 133rd Kentucky Derby cup will be engraved and shipped to the owner of the winning horse after the race takes place.

How to Purchase a Cup

Consumers, 21 years and older, can log on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase or bid on one of 13 auction cups. Presented on one day, at one place only, all cups purchased must be picked up by the buyer or the buyer's proxy on May 5, 2007, Kentucky Derby Day at historic Churchill Downs.

Gold Cup

Woodford Reserve's stunning 24-kt gold-plated cups adorned with a horse head burgee are carefully engraved with the names of past Kentucky Derby winners and presented with a sterling silver sipping straw. There will be 119 gold cups on sale at www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com for $1,000 on a "first-come, first-buy" basis through May 4 at noon (EST).

Triple Crown[R] Cups

Three rare rubies set in an exclusive 24-kt gold-plated cup with a sterling silver sipping straw represent each leg of the Triple Crown these distinguished thoroughbreds have won. Consumers can bid on one of 11 Triple Crown cups during the on-line auction. The auction ends noon (EDT) on May 1. Christie's will announce the winners prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Derby Legend Cups

All Kentucky Derby winners are celebrated, but some, including Aristides, the first Derby winner, and Barbaro, the most recent Derby winner, stand out amongst the crowd. To commemorate these amazing thoroughbreds, Woodford Reserve has set a single diamond in an exclusive 24-kt gold-plated cup with a sterling silver sipping straw. Consumers can bid on one of two Derby Legend cups during the on-line auction. The auction ends noon (EDT) on May 1. Christie's will announce the winners prior to the Kentucky Derby.

"We're thrilled to continue the $1,000 Mint Julep program after last year's success and to honor former Kentucky Derby winners on the cup," said Tricia Amburgey, director of sales at Churchill Downs. "Each Kentucky Derby winner has a great story behind its victory. We can't wait to see which cup raises the most money for charity."

The Mint Julep Cocktail

Cup owners will be able to receive an exclusive mint julep when they pick up their cup at one of three designated locations. With one-of-a-kind ingredients, including a special selection of Woodford Reserve bourbon, lush mint from the coast of Ireland, freshly harvested organic sugar from the cane fields in Queensland, Australia and ice from the Bavarian Alps, this exotic cocktail is truly a Derby luxury.

Whisky experts, including Chris Morris, the Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve, and Tim Laird, Brown-Forman's Chief Cocktail Officer, will be on hand to help present the mint juleps for the owners of the auctioned Mint Julep cups. The 119 gold cups will be delivered at one of three designated locations where the exotic cocktail will also be offered.

Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve, 45.2% ABV, is the "Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby" made at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky - the heart of thoroughbred country. Woodford Reserve is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BFB) (NYSE:BFA), a diversified company responsible for other quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, and Korbel California Champagnes. Woodford Reserve reminds you to drink responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

Churchill Downs, the world's most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2007. The track's 2007 Spring Meet is set for April 28 through July 8. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com .

About Christie's

Christie's is the world's leading art business with global auction sales in 2006 that totaled GBP 2.51 billion / $4.67 billion. This 36% increase over 2005 marks the highest total in company and in art auction history. Christie's is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service, and international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie's offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, cars and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million. Christie's has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai and Hong Kong. Most recently, Christie's has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging markets such as China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Dubai, Mumbai and Russia. Christie's also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christie's LIVE, its unique, real-time online bidding service.