News and Press Releases

Derby City Gaming (“DCG”) presented a $63,606.45 donation to Norton West Louisville Hospital today through its Donation Station program. The Donation Station program allows guests to donate ticket vouchers to support local nonprofit organizations. The average contribution was 35 cents per transaction. Together, those contributions generated a $63,606.45 donation to the Norton Healthcare Foundation to support Norton West Louisville Hospital, which opened in November 2024 to expand access to high-quality healthcare for residents of West Louisville.

On Labor Day, Colonial Downs Racetrack concluded the biggest season in the track’s nearly thirty year history with a thrilling finish in the Old Dominion Derby. The 2026 live racing season saw new highs for the number of races and race days, horses in competition, prize money awarded, and wagering handle.

The official Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will begin Saturday at the home of America’s greatest race as Churchill Downs stages the 45th running of the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade III) for 2-year-olds at one mile on opening weekend of its 14-day September Meet. The Road to the Kentucky Derby, which debuted in 2013, annually awards a sliding scale of points to the top five finishing positions in select qualifying races. At the conclusion of the series, the leaderboard will determine the preference list for entries into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby – the 1 ¼-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds annually held on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) ("CDI") today announced the promotion of Jason Stoess to Vice President and General Manager of Calder Casino, effective immediately. Stoess will report to Michael Meagher, Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations.

On Tuesday, August 25, Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") was honored as one of Louisville Business First's Top Ten Large Companies for philanthropic giving at the 2026 Partners in Philanthropy Awards. As the Title Sponsor of this year's event, CDI was proud to support a celebration recognizing the businesses and nonprofit leaders who are making a lasting impact across the Louisville community.

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“Churchill Downs”) today announced Eric Thomson as its new Senior Vice President of Marketing & Partnerships, where he will lead marketing, brand strategy, partnerships, sponsorships, licensing and creative services for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Thomson will report to Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. Thomson joins Churchill Downs from Pernod Ricard, where he held senior global and regional marketing leadership roles across some of the world's best-known premium wine and spirits brands. Over more than 20 years, he has led brand strategy, marketing innovation and high-profile collaborations across sports, entertainment and culture, including partnerships with the Melbourne Cup, FIFA, Wimbledon, the Australian Grand Prix and the Rugby World Cup.

During Family Fun Weekend at Colonial Downs, “Turbo” lived up to his name and emerged as the top dog by winning the third annual Colonial Downs Wiener Dog races. Assisted by his human Kaitlyn Hodson, Turbo bested a field of 64 Wiener Dogs who took to the Colonial Downs dirt track between thoroughbred races on Saturday. The weekend wrapped up on Sunday with the track’s first Princess and Tractor Day and a hobby horse race.

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming and Newport Racing & Gaming partnered with FIESTA NKY during the second quarter, contributing more than $15,000 and participating in volunteer events to support Hispanic and immigrant families across Northern Kentucky. FIESTA NKY, which stands for Families, Inclusion, Education, Society, Tradition and Access, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the needs of Northern Kentucky’s growing Hispanic and immigrant population.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (“NYRA”) announced today the creation of the “Thoroughbred Championship Series.” The new six-race competition will begin in 2027 and establish an annual season-long championship for America’s leading three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The country’s most iconic racing venues – Churchill Downs Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course – will host the six-race series beginning the first Saturday in May.