Bravo at the Kentucky Derby!

BRAVO TAKES THE REINS AT KENTUCKY OAKS EVENT WITH “LADIES FIRST: BRAVO AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY” SPECIAL LIVE ON FRIDAY APRIL 30 AT 5PM ET/PT
Dina Manzo from “The Real Housewives Of New Jersey,” Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos from “Flipping Out,” Isaac Mizrahi from “The Fashion Show” and “Top Chef’s” Michael Voltaggio, Jennifer Carroll & Eli Kirshtein Set To Appear

NEW YORK, NY – April 26, 2010 – Bravo celebrates the Kentucky Derby with the second annual “Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby” special live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY., airing on Friday, April 30 at 5 p.m. ET/PT. This one-hour special, produced by NBC Sports and hosted by Bravo’s Andy Cohen, celebrates the very best in food, fashion and the celebrity experience associated with the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks. Dina Manzo from ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” and Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos from “Flipping Out” join Cohen to celebrate a day for women and to give viewers a history on the fashion and festivities before and after the Oaks race. Isaac Mizrahi, renowned designer and host of Bravo’s “The Fashion Show” will dress “Today” show correspondent Natalie Morales for the festivities, and “Top Chef” stars Michael Voltaggio, Jennifer Carroll and Eli Kirshtein will be cooking from the Infield Club.

Viewers will get to experience the thrill of the Kentucky Derby experience live from their own homes as they watch the festivities unfold – Bravo-style. From learning how to bet on horse races with “The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s” Dina Manzo, to a Derby fashion show judged by “Flipping Out’s” Jenni Pulos, viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at everything the Kentucky Oaks has to offer. Also, the special will include a “Top Chef” cooking segment judged by “Flipping Out’s” Jeff Lewis and a countdown of the best horse moments from the “Real Housewives” franchise.

Additionally, “Top Chef: The Tour,” a state-of-the-art customized traveling kitchen with expansive space to accommodate cooks and fans alike, will make a special stop at the Kentucky Oaks in the Infield Club. The 21-city nationwide traveling tour for the No. 1 food show on cable, the Emmy and James Beard award-winning “Top Chef,” gives Bravo’s passionate fans the opportunity to interact with “chef’testants” Michael, Jennifer and Eli in Louisville in a more interactive way than ever before. Visitors of “Top Chef: The Tour,” sponsored locally by Insight Communications, will have the opportunity to sample food tastings, receive gourmet cooking tips, hear “Top Chef” show “secrets,” and get chef’testant autographs. Also, fans will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of on-site “Top Chef” activities, including a Quickfire Challenge.

Kentucky Oaks 136, the companion event to the annual Kentucky Derby, will feature a day of events to raise money and awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, which leads the global movement for breast cancer research, education, advocacy and community support. Churchill Downs Racetrack, host of the Kentucky Derby® and the Kentucky Oaks®, and Komen, formed a partnership to raise funds to aid in breast cancer awareness and research.

In addition, both organizations are working together to create special events throughout Oaks Day that will be featured in the “Ladies First” special, including a First Lady of Fashion Contest, a Survivors Parade and a special Kentucky Oaks winner’s circle formed by breast cancer survivors to celebrate the Kentucky Oaks winner’s victory on the track and the survivors’ victories over breast cancer. Since the official color of both the Kentucky Oaks and breast cancer awareness is pink, Churchill Downs is also staging a “Pink Out” at the track on Oaks Day and encouraging all Oaks attendees to wear pink or to incorporate pink into their attire for the day to show their support. Through the new partnership with Susan G. Komen, Churchill Downs will donate at least $100,000 to Komen by dedicating funds from Kentucky Oaks 136 general admission and reserve seating attendance.