Here’s another round-up of LouisvilleKY’s Kentucky Derby Festival’s latest news

April 17, 2017

FUTURE CAT, CARDS AND HOOSIERS STAND OUT AT BASKETBALL CLASSIC

Louisville, KY. – A crowd of 4,812 was on hand Saturday night at Freedom Hall as Team Lightning defeated Team Thunder 122-109 in the 44^thAnnual Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic presented by Papa John’s. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (University of Kentucky) was named Team Lightning MVP. WKU signee Taveion Hollingsworth was named MVP of Team Thunder. Xavier signee Naji Marshall was named the “Fan Favorite” in online voting by fans and spectators at the game.

This year’s game featured top rated recruits from the nation’s top college basketball programs, including University of Louisville signees Malik Williams, Darius Perry, Lance Thomas and Jordan Nwora; UK signee Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; and IU signees Justin Smith and Aljami Durham. At halftime, it was announced that the team of Chuma Okeke (Auburn signee) and Taveion Hollingsworth (Western Kentucky University signee) won Friday night’s 2-on-2 finals at Indiana University Southeast Activities Building during the Horseshoe Foundation Derby Festival Night of the Future Stars.

“Tonight’s crowd got a sneak peek at players who will become household names among basketball fans over the next few years,” said Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry. “It was another great game with outstanding talent.”

The Finals for these competitions were held at halftime of tonight’s game.

3 POINT SHOOTING CONTEST

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Attending: University of Kentucky

SLAM DUNK CONTEST

Savion Flagg

Attending: Texas A&M

First held in 1973, the Derby Festival Basketball Classic is the oldest high school all-star game in the nation. The game has featured such players as Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Eric Bledsoe, Deron Williams and Nolan Smith, among many others.

The Basketball Classic is presented by Papa John’s, with Contributing Sponsor Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County. Media Sponsors are 99.7 DJX, B96.5 FM, and SLAM Magazine. Supporting Sponsor: Dick’s Sporting Goods. The game was broadcast on WDRB.

The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

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STOCK YARDS BANK AND DERBY FESTIVAL READY TO GIVE AWAY $1 MILLION HOLE-IN-ONE GOLF CONTEST

OPENS THURSDAY

April 17, 2017. Louisville, KY. – It’s time to take your shot at $1 million! The Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest opens this Thursday, April 20, and runs through Sunday, April 30. The contest will take place at the Seneca Golf Course Driving Range off Pee Wee Reese Road. There will be 10 days of preliminary qualifying rounds and a Semi-final Round on Sunday, April 30.

The preliminary competition is open 10 AM to 8:30 PM every day from April 20 – April 30, except for April 22, when it will be closed for Thunder Over Louisville. The last day for preliminary competition is Sunday, April 30, from 10 AM to 5 PM, and then the Semi-Final round begins at 6 PM. Competitors and spectators can relax in the refreshment tent located adjacent to the tee area.

During the preliminary rounds the 10 closest shots to the hole each day will advance to the Semi-final round, while hole-in-one shots, will advance directly to the Finals. It’s $1 per shot daily, with 2 shots for $1 specials on the following days:

Senior Days (62+): Weekdays 10 AM – 2 PM
Junior Day (under 18): April 23
First Responders & Veterans Day: April 24
Ladies Day: April 25

There are a total of 56 positions in the Finals, which include all daily hole-in-one qualifiers, four female qualifiers from Ladies’ Day, plus two qualifiers under the age of 18 from Junior Day advance as well. The Finals will be held on Tuesday, May 2, at 6 PM at Seneca Golf Course Hole #8. If no hole in one is awarded during the Grand Prize round, the participant coming closest to the hole during the Finals will receive a $5,000 first prize.

Stock Yards Bank is the title sponsor of the event. Contributing Sponsor is Metro Parks & Recreation, joining Media Sponsors WLKY TV, 840 WHAS and Insider Louisville

Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO REGISTER FOR DERBY FESTIVAL ROAD RACES

Louisville, KY. – If you plan to run the Derby Festival’s Marathon or miniMarathon, but haven’t registered yet, your time is running out! Registration for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon Presented by Walmart and Humana will close at midnight on Thursday, April 20. There will be no late registration. The registration fees are $95 for the miniMarathon and $105 for the Marathon. Runners can register online at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com.

For runners who don’t want to go the distance of the mini or full Marathon, they can recruit friends and register as a team. In conjunction with the 2017 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon, the Marathon Team Relay option is again being offered. The Team Relay registration fee is $325. Teams can consist of up to 5 runners and have as few as 3 competing members. Relay Teams will run the same course as the Marathon, which has been divided into 5 separate legs consisting of two 5k, two 10k, and a 12.2k.

The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and miniMarathon is still the largest annual day of road racing in Kentucky. 2017 races are set for Saturday, April 29, and will again be capped at 18,000 runners. Both races will start simultaneously at 7:30 am on Main Street near Slugger Field and will finish at Preston and Witherspoon streets.

Walmart and Humana are Co-Presenting Sponsors of the Marathon and miniMarathon. The Official Race Medical Partner is Norton Sports Health and Contributing Sponsors are BB&T, Churchill Downs, Louisville Water Company, Powerade, and The Courier-Journal. Official Bourbon: Jim Beam®. Official Hotel: The Galt House. Official Pace Car: John Jones Auto Group.