GREENVILLE, Miss., Dec. 8, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harlow's Casino Resort & Hotel ("Harlow's) held a ceremony today to break ground for a series of renovations and improvements that will add new amenities to the resort property while remodeling and repurposing some hospitality areas that were impacted by severe Mississippi River flooding in the spring of 2011.

Harlow's planned improvements include the following amenities:

• New buffet area,
• New steakhouse,
• New business center,
• New spa facility,
• New fitness center,
• New pool, and
• New multi-purpose event center.

The new event center will take the place of Harlow's current 2,600-seat entertainment venue, which sustained significant damage during the historic Mississippi River flooding that temporarily shuttered the facility in May 2011. The event center will be multi-functional and able to host a number of events, including business meetings and seminars, private parties and receptions, and musical performances and other forms of live entertainment.

Harlow's General Manager Reggie Fullwood said the expansion is designed to enhance Harlow's regional competitiveness. "Harlow's entire team looks forward to offering these new and improved amenities to our customers and to making one of the best casino-resort experiences in the Mississippi Delta even better," Fullwood said. "While no one expected the massive flooding that closed and caused significant damage to our venue last spring, we've found the silver lining in that unfortunate cloud and are excited to add new features and update hospitality areas that will make Harlow's even more appealing to guests."

Construction on the new event space is expected to begin in early 2012 with work on the new and improved buffet and restaurant spaces and hospitality areas to begin by mid year. All renovation and remodeling work should be finished by early 2013.

Harlow's Casino Resort & Hotel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq:CHDN), is located on approximately 69 acres of leased land near the Mississippi River in Greenville, Miss., features a 33,000-square foot gaming floor with 841 Class III slot machines, 23 table games and a poker room; a five-story, 105-room attached hotel; an entertainment center; and three separate dining areas. The property, which opened in November 2007, sits at the base of a new $336 million U.S. Highway 82 Bridge that connects Harlow's to customers in the neighboring state of Arkansas. Additional information about Harlow's can be found at www.harlowscasino.com.

CONTACT: Julie Koenig Loignon

         (502) 636-4502 (office)

         Julie.Koenig@kyderby.com