Turfway Park stakes gets new sponsor

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Florence, KY (Sports Network) - The main stakes race for three-year-olds at Turfway Park has gained a new sponsor beginning with the new year.

Turfway Park announced Monday that Vinery Racing will be the new sponsor for the track's premier event for three-year-olds on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 1/8-mile race will be known as the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes with its 40th running on March 26, 2011. The race began in 1972 as the Spiral Stakes and has had several sponsors over its history.

"Vinery is committed to supporting racing," said stable president Tom Ludt, "and we are especially pleased to be associated with a race that is a major fixture in the three-year-old division."

In the past the $500,000 race has been known as the Jim Beam Stakes and most recently the Lane's End Stakes. The 2010 renewal was won by Dean's Kitten and in 2007 Hard Spun came in first prior to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

"Turfway was a pioneer in thoroughbred race sponsorship, and the Spiral Stakes has had strong sponsorship support since 1982," said Turfway Park president Robert N. Elliston. "We have appreciated all the contributions to this race's success and are proud to move forward with Vinery as we incorporate fresh ideas into this long tradition."

Located in northern Kentucky near Cincinnati, Turfway Park was originally known as Latonia Park. The track began its current race meet on December 2 and will run through April.