Central Bank to Sponsor Keeneland’s Grade 1 Ashland Stakes

LEXINGTON, KY (Dec. 22, 2009) – Keeneland officials today announced that Central Bank has been named the signature sponsor of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes, to be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010.

The $400,000 Ashland, for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, is a premier prep race for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Since 1936, 31 fillies have used the Ashland as a steppingstone to victory in the Oaks, the most recent being champion Proud Spell, who won the 2008 Oaks off a third-place finish in the Ashland. 

“Central Bank is a respected leader in the Commonwealth and a special member of the Keeneland family,” said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland’s Director of Racing. “We value their continued commitment to the Thoroughbred industry, and look forward to exploring ways to grow our partnership, particularly with regard to community involvement.”

“Keeneland occupies a very special place in the minds of racing fans throughout Kentucky,” noted Central Bank Chairman, President & CEO, Luther Deaton, Jr.  “We are very pleased to add this premier event to our excellent relationship with Keeneland by sponsoring the Ashland Stakes.”

The Ashland Stakes has rich ties to Keeneland and Central Kentucky history. The race takes its name from the historic Ashland estate of American statesman and longtime Lexington horseman Henry Clay. Clay was an early patron of horse racing, owning one of Lexington’s first race tracks and establishing Ashland Thoroughbred Stock Farm at his estate in 1830.

The forerunner of the Ashland Stakes was the Ashland Oaks, originated at the old Kentucky Association track. The Ashland Oaks was a race for three-year-old fillies begun in 1879 and run every year through at least 1926, with the exception of 1897-1912.

The Ashland Stakes was inaugurated at Keeneland’s first race meeting in 1936 and won by Brownell Combs’ champion Myrtlewood. Its initial two runnings – in 1936 and 1937 – were for fillies and mares, three-years-old and older. After a discontinuance of two years, the Ashland was revived in the spring of 1940 as an event exclusively for three-year-old fillies. Among its roster of winners are such outstanding fillies as Madcap Escapade, Take Charge Lady, Silverbulletday, Go For Wand, Princess Rooney, Optimistic Gal, Real Delight and Doubledogdare.

Central Bank sponsored Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (G3), held on opening day of the spring meeting, from 2005- 2009.

Central Bancshares, Inc. is a financial services holding company headquartered in Lexington, KY.  The Company is the second largest financial institution chartered in the state of Kentucky, offering the personal service of a community bank combined with the broad range of financial products and expert advice expected from a regional bank.  With more than 100,000 customers, Central Bancshares, Inc. serves individual consumers and small to middle market business with full-service banking, investments, mortgages, insurance and wealth management.  The Company has 28 banking offices in Boone, Clark, Fayette, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Madison, Scott and Bath counties, and serves nearly one-half its customers regularly through internet banking (CentralNET) and telephone banking (Central Connection).  Central Bancshares is the holding company for Central Bank & Trust Co., Central Bank, FSB, Central Bank of Jefferson County, Salt Lick Deposit Bank, Central Insurance Services and Central Investment Center, Inc.

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For nearly 75 years, The Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world's largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, April, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings back to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, as well as millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit us online at www.keeneland.com .