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Kentucky Derby to Feature Sponsor


The Kentucky Derby, the first leg of U.S. horse racing's Triple Crown, will have a sponsor for the first time.

Derby officials announced a five-year deal with Yum Brands Incorporated, the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. KFC used to be known as Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The sponsorship will begin with this year's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6. Churchill Downs president Tom Meeker said there will be "very discreet signage." He said the race will be referred to as the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands.

Yum will display its logo beneath the famed twin spires at Churchill Downs, on a sign above the starting gate, on billboards around the track and even on the jackets of pony riders who escort horses during the post parade.

Terms of the five-year deal were not disclosed. Yum has nearly 34,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and territories.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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