By Lyndsey Gilpin
On Friday, Nov. 6, Churchill Downs will be hosting the second annual College Scholarship Day.
With a valid student identification card, any student can enter the grounds, starting at 11:30 a.m. The first 500 students to enter will also receive a free t-shirt from Gray’s College Bookstore. The students will be directed to a registration tent near the paddock, where they can enter prize drawings to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships. Each winner must be a full-time college student, and must be present to win. One drawing will take place after each of the 10 races.
Gary Palmisano, the marketing associate at Churchill Downs, has helped to promote College Scholarship Day to University of Louisville students.
“It was well-received last year, so we wanted to bring it back,” said Palmisano, a senior equine marketing major. “The day gives students something different to experience. They can enjoy a day with their friends, and possibly bring home a few extra dollars.”
Palmisano and the Churchill Downs crew are expecting around 500 students to attend, and are hoping for more. They expect to see both Bellarmine University and U of L students, but last year there were several University of Kentucky, Indiana University Southeast and Northern Kentucky University students as well.
Along with the scholarship drawing and horseracing, will be a Dress to Impress Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Paddock Pavilion. There will be $2 hot dogs, discounted drinks and music from local disc jockey Ryan Cox. The most fashionable man and woman will win a $250 gift certificate to a local boutique and two tickets to The Voice Tribune’s New Year’s Eve Soiree, sponsored by Churchill Downs.
