Churchill Downs Incorporated Reports First Quarter Results

    Business Editors

    LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2005--Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) ("CDI" or "Company") today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005.
    Net revenues were $56.3 million, up 49.1 percent compared with $37.7 million for the first quarter of 2004. CDI reported a net loss of $13.9 million, or $1.08 per share, compared with a net loss of $11.7 million, or $0.89 per share, in the same period one-year prior.
    CDI historically operates at a loss for the first quarter because it conducts minimal live racing events during the period. With its acquisition of Fair Grounds Race Course in October 2004, the Company added 61 race dates in the first quarter of 2005. However, gains resulting from these additional race dates were offset in part by $2.8 million in legislative spending related to the March 8 alternative gaming ballot initiative in Florida, as well as higher corporate expenses, and fewer simulcast dark days at Arlington Park versus the same period a year ago.
    Thomas H. Meeker, CDI's president and chief executive officer, said the Company made important investments in strategic objectives in the quarter that should expand the CDI brand and deliver returns over the long-term. "We advanced or completed a number of brand-extending initiatives that required capital in the first quarter and we believe will impact our top line going forward. We completed our $121 million modernization of Churchill Downs, as well as the build out of our Customer Relationship Management ("CRM") platform. We closed a successful meet at our new Fair Grounds Race Course operation. We continued to advocate for industry-friendly alternative gaming legislation in Florida. We announced a five-year Kentucky Derby sponsorship agreement with Visa USA. Also, we announced the renewal of our Derby broadcast rights with NBC, a network that has shown it can raise the profile of our great event and industry through its excellent coverage and marketing.
    "We expect such efforts to deliver growth over the course of several years and have already begun to see some of our investments manifest themselves onto our top line," continued Meeker. "Our first meet at Fair Grounds Race Course, for example, delivered positive results for the first quarter, resulted in the first on- and off-track wagering gains for the track in four years' time, and featured a Louisiana Derby that generated the highest wagering for a single day in state history. Patrons responded very favorably to the first Kentucky Derby and Oaks held in our newly renovated Churchill Downs facility, as demonstrated by the incredible on-track results that included Derby attendance of 156,435, the second-highest ever; on-track wagering of $22.1 million, a new Derby record; and Oaks attendance of 111,243 and on-track wagering of $12.1 million, both records. We are equally thrilled with the success of the Derby across the country, as more than 20 million viewed the race and total wagering on the 131st running amounted to $156 million, topping the North American, single-day wagering record of $143 million set during last year's Derby."
    Meeker concluded, "These results, coupled with the roll out of our CRM initiative and Company-wide customer focus, provide us momentum as we transition into the current quarter and the heart of our racing season. The experience garnered from the second quarter should give us a much clearer view of business trends, which we look forward to sharing with you in our disclosures for that period."
    A conference call regarding this release is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2005, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. Investors and other interested parties may listen to the teleconference by accessing the online, real-time webcast and broadcast of the call at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/investor_relations or www.fulldisclosure.com, or by calling (913) 981-5532 at least 10 minutes before the appointed time. The online replay will be available at approximately noon and continue for two weeks. A six-day telephonic replay will be available two hours after the call ends by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering 5125401 then prompted for the access code. A copy of the Company's news release announcing earnings and relevant financial and statistical information about the period will be accessible at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/investor_relations.
    In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company has provided a non-GAAP measurement, which presents a financial measure of Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). CDI uses EBITDA as a key performance measure of results of operations for purposes of evaluating performance internally. The Company believes the use of this measure enables management and investors to evaluate and compare, from period to period, CDI's operating performance in a meaningful and consistent manner. This non-GAAP measurement is not intended to replace the presentation of CDI's financial results in accordance with GAAP.
    Churchill Downs Incorporated, headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates world-renowned horse racing venues throughout the United States. The Company's seven racetracks in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana host 121 graded-stakes events and many of North America's most prestigious races, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Hollywood Gold Cup and Arlington Million. CDI racetracks have hosted nine Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships - more than any other North American racing company. CDI also owns off-track betting facilities and has interests in various television production, telecommunications and racing services companies that support CDI's network of simulcasting and racing operations. CDI trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.
    This news release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned that such forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include: the effect of global economic conditions; the effect (including possible increases in the cost of doing business) resulting from future war and terrorist activities or political uncertainties; the economic environment; the impact of increasing insurance costs; the impact of interest rate fluctuations; the effect of any change in the Company's accounting policies or practices; the financial performance of our racing operations; the impact of gaming competition (including lotteries and riverboat, cruise ship and land-based casinos) and other sports and entertainment options in those markets in which we operate; the impact of live racing day competition with other Florida, Louisiana and California racetracks within those respective markets; costs associated with our efforts in support of alternative gaming initiatives; costs associated with our Customer Relationship Management initiatives; a substantial change in law or regulations affecting our pari-mutuel and gaming activities; a substantial change in allocation of live racing days; litigation surrounding the Rosemont, Illinois, riverboat casino; changes in Illinois law that impact revenues of racing operations in Illinois; a decrease in riverboat admissions subsidy revenue from our Indiana operations; the impact of an additional Indiana racetrack and its wagering facilities near our operations; our continued ability to effectively compete for the country's top horses and trainers necessary to field high-quality horse racing; our continued ability to grow our share of the interstate simulcast market; our ability to execute our acquisition strategy and to complete or successfully operate planned expansion projects; our ability to adequately integrate acquired businesses; market reaction to our expansion projects; any business disruption associated with our facility renovations; the loss of our totalisator companies or their inability to provide adequate reliance on their internal control processes through SAS 70 reports or to keep their technology current; the need for various alternative gaming approvals in Louisiana; our accountability for environmental contamination; the loss of key personnel and the volatility of our stock price.

CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET LOSS for the three months ended March 31, (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)

2005 2004 ---------- ---------

Net revenues $56,252 $37,729 Operating expenses 65,389 47,493 ---------- ---------

Gross loss (9,137) (9,764)

Selling, general and administrative expenses 14,142 9,078 ---------- ---------

Operating loss (23,279) (18,842) ---------- ---------

Other income (expense): Interest income 86 116 Interest expense (2,647) (1,384) Unrealized gain on derivative instruments 206 - Miscellaneous, net 537 336 ---------- --------- (1,818) (932) ---------- ---------

Loss before income tax benefit (25,097) (19,774)

Income tax benefit 11,200 8,028 ---------- ---------

Net loss $(13,897) $(11,746) ========== =========

Basic and diluted net loss per common share $(1.08) $(0.89)

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding 12,881 13,257

Certain financial statement amounts have been reclassified in the prior periods to conform to current period presentation.

CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION BY OPERATING UNIT for the three months ended March 31, (Unaudited) (In thousands)

2005 2004 --------- --------- Net revenues from external customers: Kentucky Operations $4,236 $4,725 Hollywood Park 4,435 5,099 Arlington Park 11,274 16,044 Calder Race Course 1,628 1,530 Hoosier Park 8,839 9,414 Louisiana Operations 16,941 - CDSN 8,766 879 --------- --------- Total racing operations 56,119 37,691 Other investments - 38 Corporate 133 - --------- --------- $56,252 $37,729 ========= ========= Intercompany net revenues: Kentucky Operations $159 $8 Hollywood Park 90 5 Arlington Park 171 11 Calder Race Course 281 268 Hoosier Park 71 3 Louisiana Operations 5,962 - --------- --------- Total racing operations 6,734 295 Other investments 138 145 Corporate 259 278 Eliminations (7,131) (718) --------- --------- $- $- ========= =========

EBITDA: Kentucky Operations $(6,601) $(6,176) Hollywood Park (3,426) (3,189) Arlington Park (1,651) 404 Calder Race Course (5,741) (2,652) Hoosier Park 414 674 Louisiana Operations 1,660 - CDSN 2,133 (133) --------- --------- Total racing operations (13,212) (11,072) Other investments 178 15 Corporate (3,509) (2,087) --------- --------- Total EBITDA (16,543) (13,144) Depreciation and amortization (5,993) (5,362) Interest income (expense), net (2,561) (1,268) Income tax benefit 11,200 8,028 --------- --------- Net loss $(13,897) $(11,746) ========= =========

Certain financial statement amounts have been reclassified in the prior periods to conform to current period presentation.

CHURCHILL DOWNS INCORPORATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited)

March 31, December 31, 2005 2004 ----------- ------------ ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $15,097 $27,712 Restricted cash 3,906 7,267 Accounts receivable, net 21,905 50,523 Deferred income taxes 3,204 3,940 Income taxes receivable 11,305 - Other current assets 9,547 3,999 ----------- ------------ Total current assets 64,964 93,441

Other assets 18,748 17,196 Plant and equipment, net 473,830 458,644 Goodwill 53,528 53,528 Other intangible assets, net 18,925 19,149 ----------- ------------ $629,995 $641,958 =========== ============ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $18,425 $34,233 Purses payable 14,271 8,464 Accrued expenses 32,570 37,511 Dividends payable - 6,430 Deferred revenue 43,229 25,941 ----------- ------------ Total current liabilities 108,495 112,579

Long-term debt, due after one year 246,382 242,770 Other liabilities 20,788 20,424 Deferred revenue 19,327 19,071 Deferred income taxes 8,681 8,686 ----------- ------------ Total liabilities 403,673 403,530

Commitments and contingencies - - Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, no par value; 250 shares authorized; no shares issued - - Common stock, no par value; 50,000 shares authorized; issued: 12,928 shares March 31, 2005 and 12,904 shares December 31, 2004 115,578 114,930 Retained earnings 111,716 125,613 Unearned compensation (1,861) (1,935) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 889 (180) ----------- ------------ 226,322 238,428 ----------- ------------ $629,995 $641,958 =========== ============

Certain financial statement amounts have been reclassified in the prior periods to conform to current period presentation.

--30--KT/na*

CONTACT: Churchill Downs Incorporated Mike Ogburn, 502-636-4415 502-262-0224, cellular mogburn@kyderby.com

KEYWORD: KENTUCKY INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: Churchill Downs Incorporated

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