Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced that Michael Lilly has been promoted to President of TwinSpires Horse Racing, the leading provider of legal online horse betting sites and the official wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby. In this role, Lilly will be responsible for the overall strategy and operation of the TwinSpires Horse Racing business within CDI’s TwinSpires Segment.

Lilly brings over 20 years of financial experience and organizational leadership experience to the role. Lilly joined CDI in 2018 as the Senior Director of Finance at Arlington Racecourse before his promotion to Vice President of Finance of CDI’s TwinSpires Segment in 2020 and subsequent role as Vice President of Finance and Operations of the Company’s TwinSpires Segment in 2022. Prior to joining CDI, Lilly held several financial leadership roles in the Chicago area. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University.

NBC Sports will continue to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032, as Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and NBC Sports announced a multi-year extension of their partnership.

The extension of the NBC Sports-Churchill Downs relationship – which began with the 2001 “Run for the Roses” – will make NBC the longest running home of the Kentucky Derby, as NBCUniversal will become the first media company to present the most prestigious event in horse racing for three decades (32 editions of the Kentucky Derby from 2001-32).

“As we celebrate the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is proud to extend the relationship with NBC Sports. As our media partner for the last 23 years, NBC has artfully captured the most exciting two minutes in sports and the spectacle of the senses that surrounds it,” said Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen.

“Telling the rich stories surrounding the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May is part of the fabric of NBC Sports, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition with Churchill Downs. We look forward to surrounding the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby with wall-to-wall coverage and extensive promotion on the platforms of NBCUniversal,” said Rick Cordella, President of NBC Sports.

The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and additional NBCU platforms.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) announced the opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Terre Haute, Indiana. The $290 million investment includes a casino floor with 1000 slot machines, 36 table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The 400,000-square-foot entertainment venue also features regionally inspired bars and restaurants including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar, and High Limit Bar.

“Today’s grand opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort is a time to reflect on the promises Churchill Downs made, kept and delivered for this community. An occasion like today feels like the end of all the effort to successfully get us to this point, but it’s actually just the beginning of what this project can do for Vigo County and the State of Indiana,” Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, said.

“This premier gaming facility will make it possible to welcome visitors from across the Midwest, the nation and the world here to Terre Haute. The opportunity this creates for the people of our community is a true testament to the leaders who have worked on this project for years,” said Mayor of Terre Haute, Brandon Sakbun.

Terre Haute Casino Resort marks the Company’s first entertainment venue in Indiana and CDI’s expansion into its 14th state. The Company is scheduled to officially open the property’s remaining amenities, which include a 122-room luxury hotel, rooftop lounge, and coffee shop, to the public on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

The development of Terre Haute Casino Resort generated nearly 1000 construction jobs and approximately 550 permanent full-time and part-time jobs. CDI officially broke ground on the entertainment venue in June 2022 with construction management partner, Wilhelm Construction.