Following an investigation by HISA into equine fatalities, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced critical initiatives aimed at enhancing equine welfare, reflecting an effort to address ethical concerns in its operational practices.

A group of Churchill Downs workers, primarily valets, have threatened to strike on Kentucky Derby day if their union’s demands for increased wages and guaranteed minimum staffing are not met. The union is calling for significant wage hikes and better staffing levels, while Churchill Downs maintains that scheduling is tied to race entries and offered modest raises.

A Louisville labor group filed an eleventh-hour lawsuit seeking an emergency restraining order to allow valets to picket outside Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby. The suit alleges that Churchill Downs secured permits to block access to public sidewalks, effectively undermining the union's right to peaceful protest and disrupting negotiations.

Unionized workers at Churchill Downs, including valets and parimutuel clerks, are in a standoff over wage increases and pension improvements. With negotiations stalling and a potential work stoppage looming just before the Kentucky Derby, the dispute highlights stark wage disparities, such as CEO compensation far exceeding median worker wages.

Churchill Downs Inc. is embroiled in a labor dispute with SEIU Local 541, the union representing seasonal valets, ahead of the Kentucky Derby. The union demands a wage increase—from roughly $16 to $20 per hour—to ensure fair working conditions, while the company has offered modest raises and criticized the union for creating a spectacle. The dispute has drawn national attention, highlighting concerns about worker rights and fair compensation in contrast to executive pay levels.