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Churchill Downs Incorporated Opens Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming in Southwestern Kentucky

MWN-AI** Summary

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), known for its rich history in horse racing and gaming, has announced the grand opening of its newest entertainment venue, Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming, set to open to the public on February 25, 2026. Located in Calvert City, Kentucky, this 23,000 square foot facility marks CDI's eighth major historical horse racing entertainment venue in the state. Marshall Yards will feature 225 cutting-edge historical racing machines (HRMs), a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering, and diverse food and beverage options.

This new venue is part of CDI's strategy to extend its presence in Southwestern Kentucky, a move aimed at boosting local economic growth, enhancing regional tourism, and positioning the company at the forefront of the racing and entertainment industry. Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, highlighted the venue's role in supporting purse funding for the Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel's racing meet. This initiative signifies CDI's commitment to creating immersive destination experiences that align with community interests.

CDI has been a pillar in the entertainment sector for over 150 years, starting with its flagship event, the Kentucky Derby. Based in Louisville, the company has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions, the development of live and historical racing venues, and regional casino operations.

As CDI ventures into this new chapter with Marshall Yards, the company is mindful of various risks that could impact its operations, including economic fluctuations, regulatory changes, and competitive pressures in the gaming landscape. Forward-looking statements reflect CDI's optimistic outlook, though the company acknowledges uncertainties that may hinder expected outcomes. Overall, Marshall Yards represents an exciting development for CDI and the Kentucky gaming community, aiming to blend entertainment and regional growth.

MWN-AI** Analysis

Churchill Downs Incorporated's (CDI) recent announcement regarding the opening of Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming is an encouraging development for investors in the horse racing and gaming industry. The new 23,000-square-foot venue in Calvert City, Kentucky, featuring 225 historical racing machines (HRMs), a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering, and dining options, expands CDI's market presence and reflects the company's focus on creating destination experiences.

From an investment perspective, this expansion represents a strategic move that aims to bolster local economic growth and enhance tourism in Southwestern Kentucky. By supporting purse funding for Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, CDI is also effectively strengthening its existing operations while diversifying its revenue streams. This integrated approach could likely improve overall profitability and decrease dependency on single revenue sources, particularly essential in environments sensitive to consumer spending and economic fluctuations.

However, potential investors should be mindful of certain risks identified in CDI's operations. While the expansion presents growth opportunities, the gaming industry is prone to regulatory changes, economic cycles, and shifts in consumer preferences. The current economic landscape, characterized by inflation and changing spending habits, poses additional uncertainty. Investors should assess these factors alongside CDI's history of robust growth and strategic acquisitions.

Moreover, CDI’s commitment to further technological advancements and maintaining competitive edges will be critical in sustaining its market position. The company's proactive stance in enhancing customer experiences through state-of-the-art venues should help attract diverse consumer bases, from racing enthusiasts to regular gamblers.

Consequently, while the launch of Marshall Yards offers promising growth potential for CDI, investors are advised to remain vigilant of the broader economic landscape and regulatory environment affecting the gaming industry. Diversifying portfolios while maintaining a close watch on CDI’s performance will position investors favorably in this evolving market.

**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.

Source: GlobeNewswire

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) announced the grand opening of Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming (“Marshall Yards”) to the public on February 25, 2026, the Company’s eighth premier historical horse racing entertainment venue in Kentucky. The 23,000 square foot venue in Calvert City, Kentucky features 225 state-of-the-art historical racing machines (“HRM”), a retail sportsbook, simulcast wagering, and various food and beverage offerings. The new HRM entertainment venue will support purse funding for Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel’s (“Oak Grove”) racing meet in Oak Grove, Kentucky.

“We are setting a new pace for growth as we expand CDI's footprint in Southwestern Kentucky,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “Marshall Yards reflects our vision to build destination experiences that generate local economic opportunities, inspire regional tourism, and secure our place at the forefront of racing and entertainment.”




About Churchill Downs Incorporated 

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) (Nasdaq: CHDN) has been creating extraordinary entertainment experiences for over 150 years, beginning with the company’s most iconic and enduring asset, the Kentucky Derby. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, CDI has expanded through the acquisition, development, and operation of live and historical racing entertainment venues, the growth of online wagering businesses, and the acquisition, development, and operation of regional casino gaming properties. www.churchilldownsincorporated.com

This news release contains various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "scheduled," and similar words or similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions), although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the following: the occurrence of extraordinary events, such as terrorist attacks, public health threats, civil unrest, and inclement weather, including as a result of climate change; the effect of economic conditions on our consumers' confidence and discretionary spending or our access to credit, including the impact of inflation; changes in, or new interpretations of, applicable tax laws or rulings that could result in additional tax liabilities; the impact of any pandemics, epidemics, or outbreaks of infectious diseases, and related economic matters on our results of operations, financial conditions and prospects; lack of confidence in the integrity of our core businesses or any deterioration in our reputation; negative shifts in public opinion regarding gambling that could result in increased regulation of, or new restrictions on, the gaming industry; loss of key or highly skilled personnel, as well as general disruptions in the general labor market; the impact of significant competition, and the expectation that competition levels will increase; changes in consumer preferences, attendance, wagering, and sponsorships; risks associated with equity investments, strategic alliances and other third-party agreements; inability to respond to rapid technological changes in a timely manner; concentration and evolution of slot machine and historical racing machine ("HRM") manufacturing and other technology conditions that could impose additional costs; failure to enter into or maintain agreements with industry constituents, including horsemen and other racetracks; cybersecurity risk, including cyber-security breaches, or loss or misuse of our confidential information as a result of a breach including customers’ personal information, or IT system operational disruptions, could lead to government enforcement actions or other litigation; costs of compliance with increasingly complex laws and regulations regarding data privacy and protection of personal information; reliance on our technology services and catastrophic events, system failures, errors or defects disrupting our operations; inability to identify, complete, or fully realize the benefits of our proposed acquisitions, divestitures, development of new venues or the expansion of existing facilities on time, on budget, or as planned; difficulty in integrating recent or future acquisitions into our operations; cost overruns and other uncertainties associated with the development of new venues and the expansion of existing facilities; general risks related to real estate ownership and significant expenditures, including risks related to environmental liabilities; personal injury litigation related to injuries occurring at our racetracks; compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other similar laws and regulations, or applicable anti-money laundering regulations; payment-related risks, such as risk associated with fraudulent credit card or debit card use; work stoppages and labor problems; risks related to pending or future legal proceedings and other actions; highly regulated operations and changes in the regulatory environment could adversely affect our business; restrictions in our debt facilities limiting our flexibility to operate our business; failure to comply with the financial ratios and other covenants in our debt facilities and other indebtedness; increases to interest rates, disruption in the credit markets or changes to our credit ratings may adversely affect our business; increase in our insurance costs, or inability to obtain similar insurance coverage in the future, and any inability to recover under our insurance policies for damages sustained at our properties in the event of inclement weather and casualty events; and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: Sam UllrichMedia Contact: Jeanna Burkhead Cunningham
(502) 638-3906(502) 678-5785
Sam.Ullrich@kyderby.com Jeanna.Cunningham@kyderby.com


Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bb3770a-2d33-4851-8c32-4d4f71fc5350

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2dee6e93-7516-47b2-aa6f-2aa746e61eaa

 

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.


FAQ**

How will Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) leverage the grand opening of Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming to enhance its brand presence and profitability in the Southwestern Kentucky region?

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) plans to leverage the grand opening of Marshall Yards Racing & Gaming by optimizing community engagement, enhancing customer experiences, and introducing innovative gaming options, thereby strengthening its brand presence and profitability in Southwestern Kentucky.

What specific strategies does Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) plan to implement to ensure the successful integration of the new historical racing machines at Marshall Yards?

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) plans to implement strategies that include meticulous staff training, robust marketing campaigns to build customer awareness, and continuous technological support to enhance user experience for the successful integration of historical racing machines at Marshall Yards.

Considering the competitive landscape, how does Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) anticipate the impact of Marshall Yards on local tourism and economy in Calvert City?

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) anticipates that Marshall Yards will enhance local tourism and economy in Calvert City by attracting visitors, creating jobs, and driving increased spending through diverse entertainment and hospitality offerings, strengthening the area's economic landscape.

What measures is Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) taking to mitigate potential regulatory risks associated with the expansion of gaming operations in Kentucky?

Churchill Downs Incorporated is proactively engaging with regulators, investing in compliance programs, and advocating for responsible gaming initiatives to mitigate potential regulatory risks associated with its gaming operations expansion in Kentucky.

**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN).

Churchill Downs Incorporated

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