Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Churchill Downs Incorporated (the "Company", "we", "us", "our") is an industry-leading racing, gaming and online entertainment company anchored by our iconic flagship event - The Kentucky Derby. We are a leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming with approximately 10,000 gaming positions in eight states, and we are the largest, legal online account wagering platform for horseracing in the U.S. We were organized as a Kentucky corporation in 1928, and our principal executive offices are located in Louisville, Kentucky. On November 29, 2017, the Company entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) to sell its mobile gaming subsidiary, Big Fish Games, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Big Fish Games”), to Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Purchaser”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, an Australian corporation (the “Big Fish Transaction”). On January 9, 2018, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company completed the Big Fish Transaction. The Purchaser paid an aggregate consideration of $990.0 million in cash in connection with the Big Fish Transaction, subject to customary adjustments for working capital and indebtedness and certain other adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement. The Big Fish Games segment and related Big Fish Transaction meet the criteria for held for sale and discontinued operation presentation. Accordingly, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the notes to financial statements reflect the Big Fish Games segment as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these consolidated financial statements reflect continuing operations only. The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows includes both continuing and discontinued operations. Refer to Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information on the discontinued operations relating to the Big Fish Transaction. We conduct our business through our operating segments and report our net revenue and operating expense associated with our operating segments in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Our operating segments, all of which are included in continuing operations with the exception of Big Fish Games, are defined as follows: Racing: primarily commissions earned on wagering at our racetracks, off-track betting facilities ("OTBs"), simulcast fees earned from other wagering sites, and operations including admissions, sponsorships and licensing rights, food and beverage services and alternative uses of our pari-mutuel facilities. Casino: slot machines, table games, video poker ancillary food and beverage services and hotel and other miscellaneous operations. In addition, we include our 50% joint venture in Miami Valley Gaming ("MVG"), our 25% equity investment in Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC ("SCH"), and an effective 62.5% equity investment in Ocean Downs. TwinSpires: mobile and online pari-mutuel wagering business on TwinSpires.com, high dollar wagering by international customers ("Velocity") and horseracing statistical data generated by our information business that provides data information and processing services to the equine industry. Other Investments: pari-mutuel wagering systems for racetracks and other investments. Corporate: other revenue and general and administrative expense not allocated to our other operating segments. Big Fish Games: social casino, casual and mid-core free to play, and premium paid games for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Refer to Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information relating to the Big Fish Transaction.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Churchill Downs Incorporated (the "Company", "we", "us", "our") is an industry-leading racing, gaming and online entertainment company anchored by our iconic flagship event - The Kentucky Derby. We are a leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming with approximately 10,000 gaming positions in eight states, and we are the largest, legal online account wagering platform for horseracing in the U.S. We were organized as a Kentucky corporation in 1928, and our principal executive offices are located in Louisville, Kentucky.

On November 29, 2017, the Company entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) to sell its mobile gaming subsidiary, Big Fish Games, Inc., a Washington corporation (“Big Fish Games”), to Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Purchaser”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, an Australian corporation (the “Big Fish Transaction”). On January 9, 2018, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company completed the Big Fish Transaction. The Purchaser paid an aggregate consideration of $990.0 million in cash in connection with the Big Fish Transaction, subject to customary adjustments for working capital and indebtedness and certain other adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

The Big Fish Games segment and related Big Fish Transaction meet the criteria for held for sale and discontinued operation presentation. Accordingly, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the notes to financial statements reflect the Big Fish Games segment as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these consolidated financial statements reflect continuing operations only. The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows includes both continuing and discontinued operations. Refer to Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information on the discontinued operations relating to the Big Fish Transaction.

We conduct our business through our operating segments and report our net revenue and operating expense associated with our operating segments in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Our operating segments, all of which are included in continuing operations with the exception of Big Fish Games, are defined as follows:

Racing: primarily commissions earned on wagering at our racetracks, off-track betting facilities ("OTBs"), simulcast fees earned from other wagering sites, and operations including admissions, sponsorships and licensing rights, food and beverage services and alternative uses of our pari-mutuel facilities.

Casino: slot machines, table games, video poker ancillary food and beverage services and hotel and other miscellaneous operations. In addition, we include our 50% joint venture in Miami Valley Gaming ("MVG"), our 25% equity investment in Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC ("SCH"), and an effective 62.5% equity investment in Ocean Downs.

TwinSpires: mobile and online pari-mutuel wagering business on TwinSpires.com, high dollar wagering by international customers ("Velocity") and horseracing statistical data generated by our information business that provides data information and processing services to the equine industry.

Other Investments: pari-mutuel wagering systems for racetracks and other investments.

Corporate: other revenue and general and administrative expense not allocated to our other operating segments.

Big Fish Games: social casino, casual and mid-core free to play, and premium paid games for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. Refer to Note 3, Discontinued Operations, for further information relating to the Big Fish Transaction.