About this episode
Shawn O’Malley and Daniel Mahncke break down Churchill Downs, Inc. (ticker: CHDN), a gaming company that is uniquely tied to the world of horse racing.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:48 - What makes the Kentucky Derby such a cherished event and a masterclass on luxury hospitality
00:05:30 - Why Churchill Downs is so much more than just a gambling company
00:07:54 - What to make of the surge in historical racing machines that are powering the company’s growth
00:17:22 - Why Churchill Downs gave up on mobile-app-based casino gaming
00:34:16 - How the company has used its relationships and lobbying powers to protect its business and even lower its taxes
00:38:18 - The risks and moats of entrenched gambling businesses
00:40:43 - What the future of horse racing looks like
00:45:09 - Why Churchill Downs is such an asset-heavy business
00:57:27 - How to think about modeling CHDN’s intrinsic value
01:01:21 - Whether Shawn and Daniel add CHDN to their Intrinsic Value Portfolio
*Disclaimer: Slight timestamp discrepancies may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
The Investors Podcast Network is excited to debut a new community known as The Intrinsic Value Community for investors to learn, share ideas, network, and join calls with experts: Sign up for the waitlist(!)
Sign up for The Intrinsic Value Newsletter.
Shawn & Daniel use Fiscal.ai for every company they research — use their referral link to get started with a 15% discount!
Learn how to join us in Omaha for the 2026 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting.
2023 Value Investors Club pitch for CHDN.
2025 Value Investors Club pitch for CHDN.
Churchill Downs’ investor relations page.
Explore our previous Intrinsic Value breakdowns: Uber,
