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Churchill Downs Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and net income rose: Net revenue was $980 million against $934 million. Net income attributable to CDI was $241 million against $217 million, and diluted EPS was $3.42 against $2.99. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose six percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $477 million against $451 million, and Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.45 against $3.10. First-half Adjusted EBITDA was $734 million against $696 million. Source
  • Derby Week wagering reached a high: The release reports all-sources wagering for Kentucky Derby Week at an all-time high. Racetrack and Wagering Services revenue both cite Derby Week wagering as a driver. Source
  • Racetrack revenue rose with Derby: Churchill Downs Racetrack revenue rose $21 million, and the segment reported $575 million against $541 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $318 million against $297 million. Source
  • Net bank leverage fell to 3.7x: Net bank leverage was 3.7x at quarter end, against 3.8x at the end of the first quarter. Source

“Churchill Downs Racetrack ran the 152 nd Kentucky Derby with all-time record Derby Week contribution to Adjusted EBITDA.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital plan total Source2026 planned spend$180-220Kept
Rockingham Grand Casino (HRM venue) spend Source2026 planned spend; completion mid-2027$70-80Kept
Churchill Downs Racetrack Victory Run spend Source2026 planned spend; completion April 2028$25-30Kept
All Other projects spend Source2026 planned spend$30-50Lowered from $50-55

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The total 2026 capital plan range of $180-220 million is the same in both releases. Source
  • Guidance kept: Rockingham Grand Casino planned spend of $70-80 million and mid-2027 completion are the same as in the first quarter release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The All Other projects range moved to $30-50 million from $50-55 million. A Completed Projects line of $55-60 million now appears in the table. Source
  • New: The forward-looking statements paragraph refers to a strategic alternative review process. The release gives no further detail, and the first quarter release did not include this reference. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and net income rose: Net revenue was $980 million against $934 million. Net income attributable to CDI was $241 million against $217 million, and diluted EPS was $3.42 against $2.99. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose six percent: Adjusted EBITDA was $477 million against $451 million, and Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.45 against $3.10. First-half Adjusted EBITDA was $734 million against $696 million. Source
  • Derby Week wagering reached a high: The release reports all-sources wagering for Kentucky Derby Week at an all-time high. Racetrack and Wagering Services revenue both cite Derby Week wagering as a driver. Source

Live and historical racing

  • Racetrack revenue rose with Derby: Churchill Downs Racetrack revenue rose $21 million, and the segment reported $575 million against $541 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $318 million against $297 million. Source
  • Kentucky HRM venues added revenue: Kentucky HRM revenue rose $12 million, led by Southwestern Kentucky at $5 million, with Northern and Western Kentucky at $3 million each. Kentucky HRM Adjusted EBITDA rose $6 million. Source
  • Central Virginia revenue fell on competition: Virginia HRM revenue rose $1 million. Northern Virginia gained $5 million net, while Central Virginia fell $4 million net, which the release attributes to increased competition. Source
  • New Hampshire EBITDA fell on closure: New Hampshire Adjusted EBITDA fell $2 million as the temporary Casino Salem venue closed during construction of the Rockingham Grand Casino venue. Source

“We ended second quarter of 2026 with net bank leverage of 3.7x.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Wagering services and solutions

  • Segment revenue and EBITDA rose: Wagering Services and Solutions revenue was $178 million against $168 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million against $48 million, with Derby Week driving Horse Racing revenue. Source
  • Horse Racing and Exacta added EBITDA: Horse Racing added $3 million of Adjusted EBITDA and the Exacta business added $1 million, against the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Six-month TwinSpires wagering rose: TwinSpires Horse Racing wagering for the six months was $1,009 million against $993 million. The release excludes wagering generated by Velocity and national affiliates. Source

Gaming

  • Gaming revenue rose on three states: Gaming revenue was $270 million against $266 million. An $8 million increase at New York, Indiana and Maryland was partly offset by a $4 million decline from ending Louisiana HRM operations in May 2025. Source
  • Gaming Adjusted EBITDA rose: Gaming Adjusted EBITDA was $133 million against $127 million. Wholly-owned properties and equity investments each added $4 million to the increase, before a $2 million Louisiana decline. Source
  • Affiliate equity income increased: Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates was $41 million against $37 million. The release attributes the equity investment increase to Rivers Des Plaines and Miami Valley Gaming. Source

“The Company's second quarter 2026 net income attributable to CDI was $241 million compared to $217 million in the prior year quarter.”

Churchill Downs Inc., press release

Costs and net income

  • Operations drove most of the gain: Adjusted net income attributable to CDI rose $18 million. Operations added $10 million after tax, lower interest expense added $4 million, and higher equity income added $4 million. Source
  • Transaction and pre-opening costs fell: Transaction, pre-opening and other expenses fell $4 million after tax. The prior-year quarter also included a $2 million after-tax impairment on Virginia HRMs. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Net bank leverage fell to 3.7x: Net bank leverage was 3.7x at quarter end, against 3.8x at the end of the first quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose in first half: Net cash provided by operating activities was $512 million for the six months, against $487 million. Capital maintenance expenditures were $38 million, against $32 million. Source
  • Debt repaid, no buybacks this year: Debt repayments were $1,006 million for the six months, against $547 million. No shares were repurchased, against $341 million a year earlier. Dividends paid were $31 million, against $30 million. Source
  • Current debt maturities rose: Current maturities of long-term debt and notes payable were $663 million at June 30, against $63 million at December 31, 2025. The release does not explain the change. Source

Capital projects and expansion

  • Capital project spend slowed: Capital project expenditures were $79 million for the six months, against $133 million a year earlier. Other investing outflows were $2 million, against $1 million. Source
  • Completed projects now shown combined: The release shows completed projects as one $55-60 million line, where the first quarter release listed individual venues. The 2026 total remains $180-220 million. Source
  • Victory Run completion targeted April 2028: The Victory Run project at Churchill Downs Racetrack has a planned 2026 spend of $25-30 million and a target completion of April 2028. Source

Kentucky Derby and Oaks media

  • Derby viewership reached new peaks: Derby peak viewership was 24.4 million, up 12%, and average viewership was 19.6 million, up 11%, each against the prior year. Source
  • Oaks aired in primetime: The 152nd Kentucky Oaks ran in primetime for the first time, drawing 2.4 million viewers. Source
  • Oaks race day wagering record: All-sources wagering for the Kentucky Oaks race day card was reported as a record. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Rockingham opening targeted mid-2027: Rockingham Grand Casino has a target completion of mid-2027, with $70-80 million of planned 2026 spend. Source
  • Victory Run targeted April 2028: The Victory Run project has a target completion of April 2028, with $25-30 million of planned 2026 spend. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
TwinSpires Horse Racing wagering, second quarter Source$634 million, against $609 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Central Virginia venues saw a net revenue decline attributed to increased competition, partly offsetting Northern Virginia gains. Source
  • Operational: Racetrack gains were partly offset by higher operating expenses in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: All Other Adjusted EBITDA fell $5 million, citing lower prior-year corporate legal fees and claim development within the captive insurance company. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The capital table lists a mid-2027 target completion for the Rockingham Grand Casino HRM venue. Source
  • Not stated: The capital table lists an April 2028 target completion for the Victory Run project. Source
  • Not stated: The release sets a 2026 capital plan total of $180-220 million, the same range as the first quarter release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.