Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN: NASDAQ) (“Company”) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.

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Net revenues from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $65.7 million, an increase of 37.4 percent over net revenues from continuing operations of $47.8 million recorded during the first quarter of 2007. Net revenues from continuing operations for the quarter were positively affected by the continued strong performance of the Company’s gaming operations in Louisiana and the growth of the Company’s advance-deposit wagering (“ADW”) business.

Net earnings from continuing operations for the period were $0.8 million, or $0.06 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $8.4 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share, during the first quarter of 2007. Factors impacting net earnings from continuing operations for the quarter included a pre-tax gain of $17.2 million in insurance recoveries related to Hurricane Katrina and the growth of the Company’s ADW business. These gains were partially offset by increased corporate expenses related to higher marketing and compensation costs. The Company has historically recorded a first-quarter net loss due to the fact its racetracks conduct few live racing dates during the quarter.

Churchill Downs Incorporated President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Evans said, “Before we discuss the just-completed business quarter, I want to personally reemphasize the tremendous sadness everyone at Churchill Downs feels about Eight Belles’ tragic accident following her gutsy performance in Kentucky Derby 134. With all of the advancements made by our industry to improve the overall health and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses, losing a competitor like Eight Belles will never be easy or acceptable. We extend our deepest sympathy to her owners, trainer and jockey for their loss, and we join the entire horse racing industry in looking for ways to prevent catastrophic injuries in the racehorses that are the very heart of our sport.”

Evans continued, “During the first quarter of 2008, we saw our strategic investments in gaming and ADW operations produce a positive return, while also managing our expenses and growing our margins. During the period, TwinSpires.com handled $61.7 million, and our combined ADW and data services businesses generated $14.1 million in net revenue. While the insurance recoveries recorded by our Louisiana Operations were the primary driver for our 2008 first-quarter earnings, our slot machine gaming operations in Louisiana continue to exceed our expectations, with our average net win per unit climbing to $250 for the quarter. During the quarter, we also used cash generated from operations to pay down long-term debt.

“By now we had hoped to share with you more concrete plans for a slot machine gaming facility at Calder Race Course. However, given Florida horsemen’s current refusal to work with us on a purse agreement, on realistic terms to share slots revenues and allocate ADW host fees – and given horsemen’s decision to prevent Calder from simulcasting its races out of state – we see little reason to advance our plans until we reach some resolution. To the extent handle continues to be negatively affected by the horsemen’s decision, we will monitor and manage our purse expenses accordingly. The same can be said in Kentucky where horsemen have shutout TwinSpires.com and Xpressbet.com customers from wagering on Churchill Downs’ races.

“Despite the unfortunate turn of events following Kentucky Derby 134, we made good progress this year in introducing the Kentucky Derby brand to new customers through unique marketing innovations, including our expanded celebrity red carpet program; our Kentucky Derby Party program with its celebrity host Bobby Flay; our chief party officer promotion, which was a hit with young fans and mainstream media; our Derby Hi-5 wager; and other initiatives designed to drive general admission attendance. We achieved the second highest on-track attendance in Kentucky Derby history and saw only slight declines in off-track wagering, an impressive feat considering tens of thousands of Florida residents and ADW customers were prevented from wagering on the full Kentucky Derby Day card due to the horsemen’s decisions previously outlined. I am extremely proud of the Churchill Downs team’s performance during Kentucky Derby week and look forward to discussing the financial impact of our marquee racing event during our second-quarter report.”

A conference call regarding this news release is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at 9 a.m. EDT. Investors and other interested parties may listen to the teleconference by accessing the online, real-time webcast and broadcast of the call at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com or www.earnings.com, or by dialing (617) 213-4859 and entering the pass code 29551691 at least 10 minutes before the appointed time. The online replay will be available at approximately noon EDT and continue for two weeks. A two-week telephonic replay will be available one hour after the call ends by dialing (888) 286-8010 and entering 78792725 when prompted for the access code. A copy of the Company’s news release announcing quarterly results and relevant financial and statistical information about the period will be accessible at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company has provided a non-GAAP measurement, which presents a financial measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). Churchill Downs Incorporated uses EBITDA as a key performance measure of results of operations for purposes of evaluating performance internally. The Company believes the use of this measure enables management and investors to evaluate and compare, from period to period, the Company’s operating performance in a meaningful and consistent manner. This non-GAAP measurement is not intended to replace the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“Churchill Downs”), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates world-renowned horse racing venues throughout the United States. Churchill Downs’ four racetracks in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Louisiana host many of North America’s most prestigious races, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Arlington Million, Princess Rooney Handicap and Louisiana Derby. Churchill Downs racetracks have hosted seven Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Churchill Downs also owns off-track betting facilities and has interests in various advance-deposit wagering, television production, telecommunications and racing services companies, including a 50-percent interest in the national cable and satellite network HorseRacing TV™, that support the Company’s network of simulcasting and racing operations. Churchill Downs trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.

Information set forth in this news release contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) provides certain “safe harbor” provisions for forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this news release are made pursuant to the Act. The reader is cautioned that such forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and similar words, 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 effect of global economic conditions; the effect (including possible increases in the cost of doing business) resulting from future war and terrorist activities or political uncertainties; the economic environment; the impact of increasing insurance costs; the impact of interest rate fluctuations; the effect of any change in our accounting policies or practices; the financial performance of our racing operations; the impact of gaming competition (including lotteries and riverboat, cruise ship and land-based casinos) and other sports and entertainment options in those markets in which we operate; the impact of live racing day competition with other Florida and Louisiana racetracks within those respective markets; costs associated with our efforts in support of alternative gaming initiatives; costs associated with customer relationship management initiatives; a substantial change in law or regulations affecting pari-mutuel and gaming activities; a substantial change in allocation of live racing days; changes in Illinois law that impact revenues of racing operations in Illinois; the presence of wagering facilities of Indiana racetracks near our operations; our continued ability to effectively compete for the country’s top horses and trainers necessary to field high-quality horse racing; our continued ability to grow our share of the interstate simulcast market and obtain the consents of horsemen’s groups to interstate simulcasting; our ability to execute our acquisition strategy and to complete or successfully operate planned expansion projects; our ability to successfully complete any divestiture transaction; our ability to execute on our temporary and permanent slot facilities in Louisiana; market reaction to our expansion projects; the loss of our totalisator companies or their inability to provide us assurance of the reliability of their internal control processes through Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70 audits or to keep their technology current; the need for various alternative gaming approvals in Louisiana; our accountability for environmental contamination; the loss of key personnel; the impact of natural disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma on our operations and our ability to adjust the casualty losses through our property and business interruption insurance coverage; any business disruption associated with a natural disaster and/or its aftermath; our ability to integrate businesses we acquire, including our ability to maintain revenues at historic levels and achieve anticipated cost savings; the impact of wagering laws, including changes in laws or enforcement of those laws by regulatory agencies; the effect of claims of third parties to intellectual property rights; and the volatility of our stock price.

You should read this discussion in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for further information, including Part I – Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion regarding some of the reasons that actual results may be materially different from those we anticipate, as modified by Part II – Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.