<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000020212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHURCHILL DOWNS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHDN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001117661</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Duchossois Group, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>845 LARCH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMHURST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001078976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUCHOSSOIS CRAIG J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>845 LARCH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMHURST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923231</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUCHOSSOIS RICHARD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>845 LARCH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMHURST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>944756</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>146.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3373</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>The Chamberlain Group, Inc</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137141</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spring Creek Investors II LLC</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>166047</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By RLD Revocable Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17646</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By CJD Revocable Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This form is a joint filing by The Duchossois Group, Inc. (&quot;TDG&quot;), Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J. Duchossois. Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J. Duchossois, by virtue of their relationship with TDG, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock of Churchill Downs Incorporated (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) that are held by TDG. Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J. Duchossois disclaim beneficial ownership with respect to the shares of common stock of the Issuer held by TDG, except with respect to each individual's pecuniary interest in such shares attributable to him by virtue of his respective equity interest in TDG.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J Duchossois, by virtue of their relationship with The Chamberlain Group, Inc. and TDG, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Issuer that are held by The Chamberlain Group, Inc. and which TDG may be deemed to beneficially own. Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J Duchossois disclaim beneficial ownership with respect to the shares of the Issuer that are owned by The Chamberlain Group, Inc., except with respect to each individual's pecuniary interest in such shares attributable to him by virtue of his respective equity interest in TDG.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects shares of common stock of the Issuer that are owned directly by Spring Creek Investors II LLC (&quot;SCI&quot;) and not by TDG. Richard L. Duchossois and Craig J. Duchossois, by virtue of their relationship with SCI, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Issuer that SCI may be deemed to beneficially own. TDG disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to the shares of common stock of the Issuer held by SCI.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects shares of common stock of the Issuer beneficially owned by Mr. Richard L. Duchossois and not by TDG or Mr. Craig J. Duchossois.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reflects shares of common stock of the Issuer beneficially owned by Mr. Craig J. Duchossois and not by TDG or Mr. Richard L. Duchossois.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric A. Reeves, attorney-in-fact for Richard L. Duchossois</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric A. Reeves, attorney-in-fact for Craig J. Duchossois</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric A. Reeves, Vice President and General Counsel of The Duchossois Group, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
