Churchill Downs Incorporated sees record Kentucky Derby Week handle

The handle for Derby Week was up 3 per cent from 2025.

US.- Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced that the all-sources handle for Kentucky Derby Week reached $487m, up 3 per cent from the prior record set in 2025. Wagers on the Kentucky Derby Day programme was $340m compared to last year’s record of $349m while wagers on the Kentucky Derby race was $225m compared to $234m.

TwinSpires, the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, handled $129m in bets on Churchill Downs races for Kentucky Derby Week, up 6 per cent from 2025. That included $89m on the Kentucky Derby Day programme, up 1 per cent and $57m on the Kentucky Derby race, equalling last year’s record.

The company expects record Derby Week adjusted EBITDA for Churchill Downs Racetrack with growth of $15m to $18m compared to the prior year.

Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, said: “We commend the connections of Golden Tempo on an exceptional victory in the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. This year’s Kentucky Derby Week was a remarkable celebration of racing.”

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, CDI’s net revenue was a record of $663m, up 3 per cent year-over-year. Net income was $83m, up 8 per cent and adjusted EBITDA was $257m, an increase of 5 per cent.