Basis Of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SEASONALITY Basis of Presentation The Churchill Downs Incorporated (the "Company", "we", "us", "our") financial statements are presented in conformity with the requirements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all of the disclosures normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") or those normally made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The following information is unaudited. Tabular dollars are in millions, except as otherwise noted. All per share amounts assume dilution unless otherwise noted. This report should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of this information have been made, and all such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, reclassifications of certain food & beverage operations between Fair Grounds and Fair Grounds Slots were made to conform to the current year presentation. Adjusted EBITDA, a measure of our operating segment results, for our joint venture, Miami Valley Gaming ("MVG"), and our equity investment, Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC ("SCH") was reclassified to exclude depreciation and amortization expense from our Casinos segment Adjusted EBITDA. There was no impact from these reclassifications on net income or cash flows. Our critical accounting policies are revenue recognition, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment and income taxes. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Operating Segment Reclassifications On January 1, 2016, we realigned our Churchill Downs Interactive Gaming ("I-Gaming") and Bluff Media ("Bluff") operations from our Other Investments segment to our TwinSpires segment to correspond with internal management reporting changes. Prior period segment financial information has been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation. Game Technology and Rights Software game development costs for Big Fish Games includes costs for internally developed and purchased third party software for free-to-play games and premium game software purchased from third parties. Costs associated with internally developed free-to-play game software that allows the user to access content in an online mode only are capitalized according to the accounting guidance governing computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Any costs incurred during preliminary project stages are expensed; costs incurred during the application development stages are capitalized as software development and costs incurred during the post-implementation/operation stages are expensed. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software cost as an operating expense over its estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months to three years. Costs associated with internally developed free-to-play game software that allows the user to access content in both an online and offline mode are capitalized as software development once technological feasibility of the software has been established. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software as an operating expense over its estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months. Generally, the software we develop reaches technological feasibility when a detailed program design of the software is available. Any costs prior to the establishment of technological feasibility are expensed when incurred as research and development costs. In addition, enhancements to existing games that increase the functionality of the game are capitalized as software development and amortized as an operating expense over the game’s estimated economic useful life which is typically 18 months. Purchased third party free-to-play game software is capitalized as software development and amortized, once placed into service, over the game’s estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months. Purchased third party software for premium games is capitalized as software development, and amortized, once placed into service, over the game’s estimated economic useful life, which is typically 12 months. Internal use software costs for TwinSpires, I-Gaming and Big Fish Games software are capitalized in property and equipment, in accordance with accounting guidance governing computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software as depreciation and amortization over its estimated economic useful life, which is generally three years. Research & development expenditures are expensed as incurred. Seasonality Racing Due to the seasonal nature of our live racing business, revenue and operating results for any interim quarter are generally not indicative of the revenues and operating results for the year and may not be comparable with results for the corresponding period of the previous year. Historically, we have had fewer live racing days during the first quarter of each year, and the majority of our live racing revenue occurs during the second quarter, with the running of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. We conducted 60 live thoroughbred racing days during the third quarters of 2016 and 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we conducted 175 live thoroughbred racing days, which compares to 183 live racing days during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Casinos Casino revenue and earnings have historically been higher during the first quarter due to seasonal revenue from our predominately southern casino properties. TwinSpires Due to the seasonal nature of the racing business, revenue and operating results for any interim quarter are generally not indicative of the revenues and operating results for the year and may not be comparable with results for the corresponding period of the previous year. Historically, our revenue is higher in the second quarter with the running of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. Big Fish Games Revenue from our Big Fish Games, Inc. ("Big Fish Games") segment also have a seasonal component and are typically lower during the summer months.

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SEASONALITY

Basis of Presentation

The Churchill Downs Incorporated (the "Company", "we", "us", "our") financial statements are presented in conformity with the requirements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all of the disclosures normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") or those normally made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The year-end Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

The following information is unaudited. Tabular dollars are in millions, except as otherwise noted. All per share amounts assume dilution unless otherwise noted. This report should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of this information have been made, and all such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, reclassifications of certain food & beverage operations between Fair Grounds and Fair Grounds Slots were made to conform to the current year presentation. Adjusted EBITDA, a measure of our operating segment results, for our joint venture, Miami Valley Gaming ("MVG"), and our equity investment, Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC ("SCH") was reclassified to exclude depreciation and amortization expense from our Casinos segment Adjusted EBITDA. There was no impact from these reclassifications on net income or cash flows.

Our critical accounting policies are revenue recognition, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, property and equipment and income taxes. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Operating Segment Reclassifications

On January 1, 2016, we realigned our Churchill Downs Interactive Gaming ("I-Gaming") and Bluff Media ("Bluff") operations from our Other Investments segment to our TwinSpires segment to correspond with internal management reporting changes. Prior period segment financial information has been reclassified to conform to the 2016 presentation.

Game Technology and Rights

Software game development costs for Big Fish Games includes costs for internally developed and purchased third party software for free-to-play games and premium game software purchased from third parties.

Costs associated with internally developed free-to-play game software that allows the user to access content in an online mode only are capitalized according to the accounting guidance governing computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Any costs incurred during preliminary project stages are expensed; costs incurred during the application development stages are capitalized as software development and costs incurred during the post-implementation/operation stages are expensed. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software cost as an operating expense over its estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months to three years.

Costs associated with internally developed free-to-play game software that allows the user to access content in both an online and offline mode are capitalized as software development once technological feasibility of the software has been established. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software as an operating expense over its estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months. Generally, the software we develop reaches technological feasibility when a detailed program design of the software is available. Any costs prior to the establishment of technological feasibility are expensed when incurred as research and development costs. In addition, enhancements to existing games that increase the functionality of the game are capitalized as software development and amortized as an operating expense over the game’s estimated economic useful life which is typically 18 months.

Purchased third party free-to-play game software is capitalized as software development and amortized, once placed into service, over the game’s estimated economic useful life, which is typically 18 months.

Purchased third party software for premium games is capitalized as software development, and amortized, once placed into service, over the game’s estimated economic useful life, which is typically 12 months.

Internal use software costs for TwinSpires, I-Gaming and Big Fish Games software are capitalized in property and equipment, in accordance with accounting guidance governing computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Once the software is placed in operation, we amortize the capitalized software as depreciation and amortization over its estimated economic useful life, which is generally three years.

Research & development expenditures are expensed as incurred.

Seasonality

Racing

Due to the seasonal nature of our live racing business, revenue and operating results for any interim quarter are generally not indicative of the revenues and operating results for the year and may not be comparable with results for the corresponding period of the previous year. Historically, we have had fewer live racing days during the first quarter of each year, and the majority of our live racing revenue occurs during the second quarter, with the running of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. We conducted 60 live thoroughbred racing days during the third quarters of 2016 and 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we conducted 175 live thoroughbred racing days, which compares to 183 live racing days during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Casinos

Casino revenue and earnings have historically been higher during the first quarter due to seasonal revenue from our predominately southern casino properties.

TwinSpires

Due to the seasonal nature of the racing business, revenue and operating results for any interim quarter are generally not indicative of the revenues and operating results for the year and may not be comparable with results for the corresponding period of the previous year. Historically, our revenue is higher in the second quarter with the running of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.

Big Fish Games

Revenue from our Big Fish Games, Inc. ("Big Fish Games") segment also have a seasonal component and are typically lower during the summer months.