Opening Night 2012
Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka presented Opening Night at Churchill Downs on April 28.
The evening kicked off the Spring Meet and started out with an open red carpet and entertainment by the Ken Arlen Orchestra. Around 7:30 p.m., a nasty thunderstorm interrupted the races and festivities. Guests ducked under cover as hail pummeled the entire area. Yet as soon as the icy precipitation stopped falling, hundreds of attendees made their way back to the paddock and the races resumed before DJ Clinton Sparks rocked the night.
Photos by BILL WINE | Contributing Photographer
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- Alisha Beeler, Chris Cook, Yobani Villafueste,Steve Cook and Michelle Henderson.
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- Nicole Latka, Kathy Sobotka, Dolores Radasch and Lori Ferriell.
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- The outriders were ready.
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- Mud, mud and more mud however, the rain did not dampen the spirit of the large crowd.
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- Shannon VanDerbur held the winning trophy following race # 7.
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- Calvin Borel posed for a photo on D’Wildcard after winning race # 7.
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- Nancy Hublar, Steve Gaylor and Sharron VanDerbur were all smiles after their horse, D’Wildcard, won the 7th race.
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- Biker Boy led a packed field of 6 horses on a sloppy track.
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- D’Wildcard ridden by Calvin Borel led early by a nose and moved to the rail.
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- Race #7 saw D’Wildcard take an early lead.
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- Samantha Muss and William Armes smiled at they reached over a wall and petted a horse.
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- Victory Nation was walked shortly before the 7th race.
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- Tiban ridden by John McKee won the 6th race.
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- Tiban approached the finish line after the 1/16 pole.
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- Tiban ridden by John McKee led a field of 8 horses in the 6th race.
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- Tiban was out front of the pack on a sloppy track.
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- Scott Carpenter and Bill Warren.
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- Dave Schnell, Jackie Clements, Kari Edison and Russell Soper.
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- Ben Huffman and George Egart.
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- Jockey Corey Lanerie was covered with mud.
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- Cache Me headed to the finish line.
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- Cache Me had the lead on a sloppy track.
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- Jan Sloan and Diane Bolton.
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- Mark Nestor and Penny Shultz.
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- Perry Pezzarossi and Sunny Lambson.
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- This outrider waited out the storm.
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- A violent rainstorm with hail struck at 8:00.
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- April and Patrick Meredith,and Jason and Jessica Mattingly.
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- Brett Kies, Mike Gilliam, Matt Dahle and Dane Coats.
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- The paddock area was crowded.
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- Gina Defler and Mary Grider.
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- Shannon Kemen and Chris Wagel.
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- Carly and Eric Kordsmeier.
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- Stephanie Ray, Lindsey Nutt, Whitney Embry,Julie Timberlake and Megan Vaughn.
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- Stephanie Ray and Lindsey Nutt.
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- Karmann Elliot, Keri Duncan and Miranda Popp.
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- Victoria Bolle, Ryan and Dana Diehlman.
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- Kevin White, Karen Daniels, Cecilia Kirtley and Matt Kamann.
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- Time for Opening Night at Churchill Downs.
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- Paul Hughes, Katherine Shepherd and Kendra Steele.
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- Bambi and Matt Preston.
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- Kim Hetrick and Lacey Estudillo.
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- Julie and Doug Dorsey.
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- Tina and Tom Camp.
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- Julien Leparoux and Martin Garcia.
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- Sonya Cotham and Marshall Evans.
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- Nick Davis, Vida and Sonya Cotham and Marshall Evans.
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