<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019e6aa5-1760-7040-b83d-228eb007bb70,g:c2784951-905a-4ab5-bef9-a44884aca68b-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-75d3-9291-8c81a15ab070" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-75d3-9291-8c81a15ab070" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-75d3-9291-8c81a15ab070" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75d1-9ae5-2a08ca0b66cd" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-196a-772d-aec5-c9bc5b609b49" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-196a-772d-aec5-c9bc5b609b49" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-196a-77e4-b4bb-70fa53dd287d" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-196a-77e4-b4bb-70fa53dd287d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingMember_019e6aa5-196a-773f-a1e3-3286fe6e3790" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingMember_019e6aa5-196a-773f-a1e3-3286fe6e3790" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember_019e6aa5-196a-76a1-9813-bcdd91eea2d8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e02-9095-1ded94fe2b09" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember_019e6aa5-196a-76a1-9813-bcdd91eea2d8" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-79eb-8091-7ab552bed102" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-79eb-8091-7ab552bed102" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-196a-7b92-98cd-0fda25b9426a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenuesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-79eb-8091-7ab552bed102" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-196a-7b92-98cd-0fda25b9426a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e6aa5-196a-7ea8-9ba4-090910aad8d8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold_019e6aa5-196a-7ea8-9ba4-090910aad8d8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-73ac-ac55-380bd88bd077" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-73ac-ac55-380bd88bd077" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_019e6aa5-196a-781b-aa5b-bc875e2b7120" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_019e6aa5-196a-781b-aa5b-bc875e2b7120" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_Transactionexpensenet_019e6aa5-196a-776e-92cb-6b4df8551543" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_Transactionexpensenet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:to="loc_chdn_Transactionexpensenet_019e6aa5-196a-776e-92cb-6b4df8551543" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_019e6aa5-196a-7f62-a102-efb7089fc161" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpensesAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7f3e-8207-82dd72858396" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingExpenses_019e6aa5-196a-7f62-a102-efb7089fc161" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-734f-9c89-c84255dc6323" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-734f-9c89-c84255dc6323" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019e6aa5-196a-773e-a0e6-8e6a3162e811" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpenseNonoperating_019e6aa5-196a-773e-a0e6-8e6a3162e811" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bf8c-20f7a1701d11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bf8c-20f7a1701d11" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-78ff-b608-e717a2cf59c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-78ff-b608-e717a2cf59c4" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-768e-b62e-a0b925fa52bb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpenseAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7985-8c5e-dd79cca6313a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense_019e6aa5-196a-768e-b62e-a0b925fa52bb" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-196a-7dec-987a-2fc517191e37" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-196a-7dec-987a-2fc517191e37" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019e6aa5-196a-775f-92f0-5156f1de29ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019e6aa5-196a-775f-92f0-5156f1de29ac" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e6aa5-196a-7621-8c31-60476c4bebae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e6aa5-196a-7621-8c31-60476c4bebae" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-196a-7f6d-9ded-ee1f4d21ac2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-196a-7f6d-9ded-ee1f4d21ac2e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-71b8-86c6-dda83ea6bf04" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-71b8-86c6-dda83ea6bf04" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7173-a5ef-801f514ad067" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7173-a5ef-801f514ad067" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare_019e6aa5-196a-7727-a77a-6dc48ec33bf0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7173-a5ef-801f514ad067" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare_019e6aa5-196a-7727-a77a-6dc48ec33bf0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare_019e6aa5-196a-7a8a-a4dd-e1654126629d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-7173-a5ef-801f514ad067" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare_019e6aa5-196a-7a8a-a4dd-e1654126629d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-71e6-a9d7-6701a0bf625f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7655-96cb-b3646da6c2d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-71e6-a9d7-6701a0bf625f" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_019e6aa5-196a-7644-9b41-fbe3b51b6aa1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-71e6-a9d7-6701a0bf625f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic_019e6aa5-196a-7644-9b41-fbe3b51b6aa1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_019e6aa5-196a-7a92-938f-bbec6f644ea5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract_019e6aa5-196a-71e6-a9d7-6701a0bf625f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding_019e6aa5-196a-7a92-938f-bbec6f644ea5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofShareholdersEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofShareholdersEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofShareholdersEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-78a8-b8f6-11c9fc3edea6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-797b-b2be-b8d6867c005c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-78a8-b8f6-11c9fc3edea6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-797b-b2be-b8d6867c005c" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019e6aa5-196a-797b-b2be-b8d6867c005c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d15-ada4-2d53a8f3a47e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019e6aa5-196a-718e-a38f-ebbffc80e472" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d15-ada4-2d53a8f3a47e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019e6aa5-196a-7154-8946-231a289c3710" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d15-ada4-2d53a8f3a47e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockIncludingAdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019e6aa5-196a-7154-8946-231a289c3710" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019e6aa5-196a-75cb-8b63-0d9b290527d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d15-ada4-2d53a8f3a47e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019e6aa5-196a-75cb-8b63-0d9b290527d4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e6aa5-196a-76c2-a9bf-7defdce43aae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d15-ada4-2d53a8f3a47e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember_019e6aa5-196a-76c2-a9bf-7defdce43aae" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-78a8-b8f6-11c9fc3edea6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesOutstanding_019e6aa5-196a-7b5b-b924-c031cbfdcca4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SharesOutstanding_019e6aa5-196a-7b5b-b924-c031cbfdcca4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e6aa5-196a-7c3b-83b0-f5751c391a52" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e6aa5-196a-7c3b-83b0-f5751c391a52" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-7525-9635-1611b72643d5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-196a-7525-9635-1611b72643d5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-aa3f-5e319383bea6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-aa3f-5e319383bea6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_019e6aa5-196a-71f7-a60e-1a2debd167f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue_019e6aa5-196a-71f7-a60e-1a2debd167f3" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_019e6aa5-196a-7673-9d88-08df92b1a531" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation_019e6aa5-196a-7673-9d88-08df92b1a531" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e6aa5-196a-75e2-aa5f-e02d8fd748d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019e6aa5-196a-75e2-aa5f-e02d8fd748d2" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther_019e6aa5-196a-7fa6-9665-39f1abb54776" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019e6aa5-196a-792b-88fc-e44ce967cc3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther_019e6aa5-196a-7fa6-9665-39f1abb54776" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SharesOutstanding_019e6aa5-196a-7bb0-8951-c98f693b3848" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SharesOutstanding"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019e6aa5-196a-76c8-b059-631fae002243" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#DescriptionofBusinessDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DescriptionofBusinessDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7d73-b1b3-b6dcb4897648" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsTable_019e6aa5-196a-7967-a5b2-d34dabd2d255" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7d73-b1b3-b6dcb4897648" xlink:to="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsTable_019e6aa5-196a-7967-a5b2-d34dabd2d255" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsTable_019e6aa5-196a-7967-a5b2-d34dabd2d255" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7ad3-84a4-8a6fe55c12b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7079-b890-4c8ad043f1dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7ad3-84a4-8a6fe55c12b7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoResortsNHHoldingsLLCMember_019fa541-45e7-7f45-a5bb-49d0f50d54ce" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoResortsNHHoldingsLLCMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7ad3-84a4-8a6fe55c12b7" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoResortsNHHoldingsLLCMember_019fa541-45e7-7f45-a5bb-49d0f50d54ce" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7b27-9fdb-c7891e50dd1c" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7d73-b1b3-b6dcb4897648" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7b27-9fdb-c7891e50dd1c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019e6aa5-196a-7159-bfe5-342ccbf95080" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7d73-b1b3-b6dcb4897648" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments_019e6aa5-196a-7159-bfe5-342ccbf95080" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_019e6aa5-196a-72d1-9fd2-28680fe82ec4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7d73-b1b3-b6dcb4897648" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments_019e6aa5-196a-72d1-9fd2-28680fe82ec4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/AcquisitionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#AcquisitionsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/AcquisitionsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-73eb-852e-3d2a98cb965c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e6aa5-196a-72f4-957c-8b72b8d99647" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-73eb-852e-3d2a98cb965c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e6aa5-196a-72f4-957c-8b72b8d99647" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e6aa5-196a-72f4-957c-8b72b8d99647" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-787b-a9a3-f9ed549d12ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7275-a1a3-bae2662ad73e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-787b-a9a3-f9ed549d12ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoSalemMember_019e6aa5-196a-7800-9001-783348c0aeb7" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoSalemMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-196a-787b-a9a3-f9ed549d12ed" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoSalemMember_019e6aa5-196a-7800-9001-783348c0aeb7" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionTable_019e6aa5-196a-72f4-957c-8b72b8d99647" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75e9-bf16-c33c635cab00" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7aa7-a66e-566b34a12969" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75e9-bf16-c33c635cab00" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingRightsMember_019e6aa5-196a-7ec1-b379-44b4439013e6" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingRightsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMajorClassNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75e9-bf16-c33c635cab00" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingRightsMember_019e6aa5-196a-7ec1-b379-44b4439013e6" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7424-9cf4-2612714506cb" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-73eb-852e-3d2a98cb965c" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7424-9cf4-2612714506cb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_019e871b-80e4-7fce-a891-f10f51f97649" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-73eb-852e-3d2a98cb965c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionConsiderationTransferred_019e871b-80e4-7fce-a891-f10f51f97649" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionRecognizedAssetAcquiredIdentifiableIntangibleAssetIndefiniteLived_019e6aa5-196a-7ffb-ac26-ffa394dfef05" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AssetAcquisitionRecognizedAssetAcquiredIdentifiableIntangibleAssetIndefiniteLived"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-73eb-852e-3d2a98cb965c" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionRecognizedAssetAcquiredIdentifiableIntangibleAssetIndefiniteLived_019e6aa5-196a-7ffb-ac26-ffa394dfef05" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/ShareholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#ShareholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/ShareholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7fcb-9388-d18500d8e587" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-75ca-a506-41a5baecad31" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7fcb-9388-d18500d8e587" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-75ca-a506-41a5baecad31" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-75ca-a506-41a5baecad31" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72b1-b676-d9df32390a94" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7087-91c5-94764b712558" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72b1-b676-d9df32390a94" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7414-b693-ce45e20bd46c" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72b1-b676-d9df32390a94" xlink:to="loc_chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7414-b693-ce45e20bd46c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c39-80de-52d045acb438" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72b1-b676-d9df32390a94" xlink:to="loc_chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c39-80de-52d045acb438" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_019e6aa5-196a-75b9-834d-c50c1f388f87" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7fcb-9388-d18500d8e587" xlink:to="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_019e6aa5-196a-75b9-834d-c50c1f388f87" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_019e6aa5-196a-7771-a1ab-43dcf553e6d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7fcb-9388-d18500d8e587" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_019e6aa5-196a-7771-a1ab-43dcf553e6d2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/ShareholdersEquityScheduleofRepurchaseAgreementsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#ShareholdersEquityScheduleofRepurchaseAgreementsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/ShareholdersEquityScheduleofRepurchaseAgreementsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7c5b-a465-4c24d8fe3952" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-7a61-96f2-7b963485704e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7c5b-a465-4c24d8fe3952" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-7a61-96f2-7b963485704e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramTable_019e6aa5-196a-7a61-96f2-7b963485704e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7327-ba34-52bee81dd08d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7f4c-9c0b-f6931329728f" xlink:to="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7327-ba34-52bee81dd08d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7d72-8176-97242fa9fb9a" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7327-ba34-52bee81dd08d" xlink:to="loc_chdn_July2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7d72-8176-97242fa9fb9a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7675-9fc6-ce505411563a" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7327-ba34-52bee81dd08d" xlink:to="loc_chdn_March2025StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7675-9fc6-ce505411563a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_A2021StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7aaf-86b0-35def9023c18" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_A2021StockRepurchaseProgramMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7327-ba34-52bee81dd08d" xlink:to="loc_chdn_A2021StockRepurchaseProgramMember_019e6aa5-196a-7aaf-86b0-35def9023c18" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019e6aa5-196a-758a-9a33-42c909dc5b6b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7c5b-a465-4c24d8fe3952" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares_019e6aa5-196a-758a-9a33-42c909dc5b6b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_019e6aa5-196a-7500-ae59-ba68dc5a306f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ShareRepurchaseProgramLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7c5b-a465-4c24d8fe3952" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue_019e6aa5-196a-7500-ae59-ba68dc5a306f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/StockbasedCompensationPlansAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#StockbasedCompensationPlansAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/StockbasedCompensationPlansAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-780b-82da-f2a020a80d22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-780b-82da-f2a020a80d22" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-780b-82da-f2a020a80d22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e8f-abec-dbfbe426b546" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b8e-8d25-69933013f4e4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e8f-abec-dbfbe426b546" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember_019e6aa5-196a-7512-93a4-c2e88e1b40f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentOperatingActivitiesDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e8f-abec-dbfbe426b546" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentContinuingOperationsMember_019e6aa5-196a-7512-93a4-c2e88e1b40f4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-780b-82da-f2a020a80d22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7a1e-acca-f43d89166657" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7b1f-a6f1-e68740221c54" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7a1e-acca-f43d89166657" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e6aa5-196a-73c7-b5ec-ffc3428ee803" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7a1e-acca-f43d89166657" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e6aa5-196a-73c7-b5ec-ffc3428ee803" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-780b-82da-f2a020a80d22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7666-abce-e2c3a3a2f8a5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameAxis_019e6aa5-196a-72ac-a441-aeef6a986279" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7666-abce-e2c3a3a2f8a5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_ChurchillDownsIncorporated2016OmnibusStockIncentivePlanMember_019e6aa5-196a-77cc-99a8-865d0272d193" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_ChurchillDownsIncorporated2016OmnibusStockIncentivePlanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7666-abce-e2c3a3a2f8a5" xlink:to="loc_chdn_ChurchillDownsIncorporated2016OmnibusStockIncentivePlanMember_019e6aa5-196a-77cc-99a8-865d0272d193" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019e6aa5-196a-7279-9f96-9edc62910683" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019e6aa5-196a-7279-9f96-9edc62910683" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7c7f-bf69-79a4913684b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredCompensationSharebasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7c7f-bf69-79a4913684b2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019e6aa5-196a-7099-93c7-095e7feb38eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1_019e6aa5-196a-7099-93c7-095e7feb38eb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_NumberOfPerformanceConditions_019e6aa5-196a-7a58-8d6e-a9f9c382c722" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_NumberOfPerformanceConditions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_chdn_NumberOfPerformanceConditions_019e6aa5-196a-7a58-8d6e-a9f9c382c722" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_NumberOfPerformanceCriteria_019e6aa5-196a-7129-a15b-caaf3b259c37" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_NumberOfPerformanceCriteria"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-77d4-a54b-6ef695f766a9" xlink:to="loc_chdn_NumberOfPerformanceCriteria_019e6aa5-196a-7129-a15b-caaf3b259c37" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/StockbasedCompensationPlansSummaryofRSUsandPSUsGrantedDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#StockbasedCompensationPlansSummaryofRSUsandPSUsGrantedDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/StockbasedCompensationPlansSummaryofRSUsandPSUsGrantedDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-74ae-82ac-50ae3cfe70a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-70b0-8422-6b9125da1fb3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-74ae-82ac-50ae3cfe70a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-70b0-8422-6b9125da1fb3" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-70b0-8422-6b9125da1fb3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-74d7-9edf-b828e33fe178" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-710d-b0f3-b54c7421d58b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-74d7-9edf-b828e33fe178" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_019e6aa5-196a-7e68-a42b-581eacb95ef0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-74d7-9edf-b828e33fe178" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_019e6aa5-196a-7e68-a42b-581eacb95ef0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e6aa5-196a-74bb-bb4c-d801adb6b587" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-74d7-9edf-b828e33fe178" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019e6aa5-196a-74bb-bb4c-d801adb6b587" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e6aa5-196a-7274-9743-ed2c6c52ffa8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-74d7-9edf-b828e33fe178" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019e6aa5-196a-7274-9743-ed2c6c52ffa8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019e6aa5-196a-70b0-8422-6b9125da1fb3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79f7-a9c5-f561a491f6f1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VestingDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingAxis_019e6aa5-196a-75a8-a302-e4aec3dde737" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79f7-a9c5-f561a491f6f1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember_019e6aa5-196a-77b2-9baf-33a623c14cee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79f7-a9c5-f561a491f6f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember_019e6aa5-196a-77b2-9baf-33a623c14cee" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember_019e6aa5-196a-71e8-8fd6-6793d8cbda17" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VestingDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79f7-a9c5-f561a491f6f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember_019e6aa5-196a-71e8-8fd6-6793d8cbda17" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e6aa5-196a-7b3e-a765-d7390c3dec5a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-74ae-82ac-50ae3cfe70a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod_019e6aa5-196a-7b3e-a765-d7390c3dec5a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_019e6aa5-196a-738e-b140-2d914282a3e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-74ae-82ac-50ae3cfe70a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1_019e6aa5-196a-738e-b140-2d914282a3e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DebtScheduleofLongTermDebtInstrumentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-7212-83e8-d07838fdeb3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-7212-83e8-d07838fdeb3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-7212-83e8-d07838fdeb3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7fbb-b479-2e6b6f324dc0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7d45-b120-8b7c4fee659d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7fbb-b479-2e6b6f324dc0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c0b-b963-775e1c78cbdb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7fbb-b479-2e6b6f324dc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c0b-b963-775e1c78cbdb" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-196a-71b5-a3dc-01f80ca24e08" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7fbb-b479-2e6b6f324dc0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-196a-71b5-a3dc-01f80ca24e08" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-7212-83e8-d07838fdeb3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7e30-ae78-9cf868b875dc" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-74c5-9418-00e1842cbcfd" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-74c5-9418-00e1842cbcfd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member_019e6aa5-196a-798c-98df-0f9cf14c5208" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member_019e6aa5-196a-798c-98df-0f9cf14c5208" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RevolverMember_019e6aa5-196a-72b6-aca3-78b2380103b5" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RevolverMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RevolverMember_019e6aa5-196a-72b6-aca3-78b2380103b5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-196a-7d01-a76c-8101263e8824" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-196a-7d01-a76c-8101263e8824" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-7ef1-8e1a-54010c8e5892" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-7ef1-8e1a-54010c8e5892" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-196a-77e4-bfb4-f0d4837a2c94" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-196a-77e4-bfb4-f0d4837a2c94" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-196a-7166-87cb-b2fff8a538ba" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-724e-9e17-4f14a74a4ce1" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-196a-7166-87cb-b2fff8a538ba" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-7212-83e8-d07838fdeb3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f12-a20a-0aeffe6f7431" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7464-8430-d1aecbe98cae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f12-a20a-0aeffe6f7431" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-7256-9197-508e9716d05c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f12-a20a-0aeffe6f7431" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-7256-9197-508e9716d05c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c17-ac81-174b397eec76" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7f12-a20a-0aeffe6f7431" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c17-ac81-174b397eec76" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e6aa5-196a-7888-88b8-6ec89df21121" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount_019e6aa5-196a-7888-88b8-6ec89df21121" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7ad6-90d6-81e6bae2008a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7ad6-90d6-81e6bae2008a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019e6aa5-196a-79b1-83df-893afd8261ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet_019e6aa5-196a-79b1-83df-893afd8261ca" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7cbc-81f5-9940effa667d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7e0f-bb87-963fbe701c82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent_019e6aa5-196a-7cbc-81f5-9940effa667d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DebtAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#DebtAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/DebtAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-74c2-a7ae-d5826b57e5d5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-74c2-a7ae-d5826b57e5d5" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-74c2-a7ae-d5826b57e5d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-196a-79a8-8bb7-24f003eb60be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-196a-7688-a6de-b4f2c05fa618" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-196a-7688-a6de-b4f2c05fa618" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c02-9ac9-9bf268037819" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c02-9ac9-9bf268037819" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember_019e6aa5-196a-7d6e-a62a-9951bdfefa24" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember_019e6aa5-196a-7d6e-a62a-9951bdfefa24" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-781b-8273-1c4957ca3f11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-196a-76fc-b753-95b9501e4f0d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-781b-8273-1c4957ca3f11" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-74c2-a7ae-d5826b57e5d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7c3d-9c78-da07192a82b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-70a7-8cae-23248a6a7969" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-70a7-8cae-23248a6a7969" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member_019e6aa5-196a-7878-bde2-f0ce2a60deab" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanADue2029Member_019e6aa5-196a-7878-bde2-f0ce2a60deab" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CreditAgreementAmendmentMember_019e6aa5-196a-7290-bb63-da9d583f3fd1" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CreditAgreementAmendmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CreditAgreementAmendmentMember_019e6aa5-196a-7290-bb63-da9d583f3fd1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-196a-786c-a0b1-8e183f81db74" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-196a-786c-a0b1-8e183f81db74" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-73d6-b3f1-bac0b4228f4a" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-196a-73d6-b3f1-bac0b4228f4a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028ExistingMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c08-be9d-10a6c7589995" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028ExistingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028ExistingMember_019e6aa5-196a-7c08-be9d-10a6c7589995" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028AdditionalMember_019e6aa5-196a-776c-b0d2-db2a814c4246" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028AdditionalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028AdditionalMember_019e6aa5-196a-776c-b0d2-db2a814c4246" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-196a-71a9-98fd-d0af30646718" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-196a-71a9-98fd-d0af30646718" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-196a-7c4b-a64f-c8cd92a1ab6a" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7378-8eed-4da2f94a7c79" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-196a-7c4b-a64f-c8cd92a1ab6a" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_019e6aa5-196a-74c2-a7ae-d5826b57e5d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-78f7-8c25-077f52e55bb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7708-9e2b-e8b3bf7454c0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-78f7-8c25-077f52e55bb1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-767c-91b3-526335c434bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-78f7-8c25-077f52e55bb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember_019e6aa5-196a-767c-91b3-526335c434bd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-196a-72a9-af4d-ce1699ddd3d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-196a-78f7-8c25-077f52e55bb1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-196a-72a9-af4d-ce1699ddd3d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019e6aa5-196a-76b7-af54-4999dcff381b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_019e6aa5-196a-76b7-af54-4999dcff381b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncreaseDecrease_019e6aa5-196a-7c82-b43b-67ee361d91ab" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncreaseDecrease"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncreaseDecrease_019e6aa5-196a-7c82-b43b-67ee361d91ab" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e6aa5-196a-737b-8c47-b08db60bd595" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_019e6aa5-196a-737b-8c47-b08db60bd595" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateElimination_019e6aa5-196a-7e87-9485-4f5a97ba46cd" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateElimination"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateElimination_019e6aa5-196a-7e87-9485-4f5a97ba46cd" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodPaymentPercentageOfPrincipal_019e6aa5-196a-7976-979c-13dd906d875f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodPaymentPercentageOfPrincipal"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodPaymentPercentageOfPrincipal_019e6aa5-196a-7976-979c-13dd906d875f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019e6aa5-196a-7e93-b4d4-434f784874fa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount_019e6aa5-196a-7e93-b4d4-434f784874fa" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentVariableInterestRateTypeExtensibleEnumeration_019e6aa5-196a-794c-8c0f-1767c9aa6868" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentVariableInterestRateTypeExtensibleEnumeration"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentVariableInterestRateTypeExtensibleEnumeration_019e6aa5-196a-794c-8c0f-1767c9aa6868" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_019e6aa5-196a-7161-b06d-a85d2d55a233" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity_019e6aa5-196a-7161-b06d-a85d2d55a233" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_019e6aa5-196a-79c8-89da-bd866d6a461b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount_019e6aa5-196a-79c8-89da-bd866d6a461b" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage_019e6aa5-196a-79ff-b74e-84e1ea6a3e05" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage_019e6aa5-196a-79ff-b74e-84e1ea6a3e05" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7136-acee-24aa219a6da7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7136-acee-24aa219a6da7" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7b45-bb52-a43c845c5d4b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7b45-bb52-a43c845c5d4b" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremiumPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7979-b9f8-789f27fc54cd" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremiumPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_019e6aa5-196a-7510-9631-a441673a78c7" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremiumPercentage_019e6aa5-196a-7979-b9f8-789f27fc54cd" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_019e6aa5-196a-7f17-9c0d-9df0004a1228" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_019e6aa5-196a-7f17-9c0d-9df0004a1228" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7740-929b-4ca6a798c8e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_019e6aa5-196a-7f17-9c0d-9df0004a1228" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionStartDateAxis_019e6aa5-196a-7740-929b-4ca6a798c8e8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_019e6aa5-1a1c-755c-87a8-d5db9249ef8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_019e6aa5-1a1c-755c-87a8-d5db9249ef8c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_019e6aa5-1a1c-7294-b705-1ed612e38cf8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_019e6aa5-1a1c-7294-b705-1ed612e38cf8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersPerformanceObligationsDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_019e6aa5-196a-7f17-9c0d-9df0004a1228" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionTable_019e6aa5-196a-7f17-9c0d-9df0004a1228" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_019e6aa5-1a1c-755c-87a8-d5db9249ef8c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1_019e6aa5-1a1c-755c-87a8-d5db9249ef8c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_019e6aa5-1a1c-7294-b705-1ed612e38cf8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1c-79d7-8a9a-f624354d23b0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation_019e6aa5-1a1c-7294-b705-1ed612e38cf8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#RevenuefromContractswithCustomersNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RevenuefromContractswithCustomersNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7048-a3eb-a5753866a4d5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7048-a3eb-a5753866a4d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_PropertyByLocationAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_PropertyByLocationAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_PropertyByLocationAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6_default" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_chdn_PropertyByLocationAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_chdn_PropertyByLocationAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-77f9-98ef-868a3eaf2da6" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_ChurchillDownsRacetrackMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7031-9873-2969121d9c33" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_ChurchillDownsRacetrackMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_chdn_ChurchillDownsRacetrackMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7031-9873-2969121d9c33" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LouisvillePropertyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7a2b-bee6-4a867ebf0001" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LouisvillePropertyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LouisvillePropertyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7a2b-bee6-4a867ebf0001" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_NorthernKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-75e8-aeff-1721f344a058" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_NorthernKentuckyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_chdn_NorthernKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-75e8-aeff-1721f344a058" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SouthwesternKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-71e4-84e3-622c5468ac89" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SouthwesternKentuckyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SouthwesternKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-71e4-84e3-622c5468ac89" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WesternKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-701b-b226-8d6a1ba9e80f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WesternKentuckyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WesternKentuckyMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-701b-b226-8d6a1ba9e80f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_VA_019e6aa5-1a1c-709d-bd2e-09753a0755c1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_VA"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_VA_019e6aa5-1a1c-709d-bd2e-09753a0755c1" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_NH_019e6aa5-1a1c-7298-8ab3-f7acc54f3ca4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_NH"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_NH_019e6aa5-1a1c-7298-8ab3-f7acc54f3ca4" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_FL_019e6aa5-1a1c-7881-8fdc-e12a6c43c9ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_FL"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_FL_019e6aa5-1a1c-7881-8fdc-e12a6c43c9ed" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_IA_019e6aa5-1a1c-7216-897d-038f30b795e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_IA"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_IA_019e6aa5-1a1c-7216-897d-038f30b795e5" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_IN_019e6aa5-1a1c-7bb2-abcb-a216746fece6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_IN"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_IN_019e6aa5-1a1c-7bb2-abcb-a216746fece6" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_LA_019e6aa5-1a1c-7eb4-b149-7ed41b7eba33" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_LA"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_LA_019e6aa5-1a1c-7eb4-b149-7ed41b7eba33" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_ME_019e6aa5-1a1c-7ca6-80ca-5f35ee51d56d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_ME"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_ME_019e6aa5-1a1c-7ca6-80ca-5f35ee51d56d" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_MD_019e6aa5-1a1c-7b38-8529-3de64c715ec8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_MD"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_MD_019e6aa5-1a1c-7b38-8529-3de64c715ec8" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_MS_019e6aa5-1a1c-73dc-9938-f3cf5c23cd82" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_MS"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_MS_019e6aa5-1a1c-73dc-9938-f3cf5c23cd82" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_NY_019e6aa5-1a1c-7635-aa13-7c053a30d766" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_NY"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_NY_019e6aa5-1a1c-7635-aa13-7c053a30d766" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_stpr_PA_019e6aa5-1a1c-720d-a9b2-69981f8f4ab4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/stpr/2026/stpr-2026.xsd#stpr_PA"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_CasinoByLocationDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-74e4-89dd-3ad44ede1382" xlink:to="loc_stpr_PA_019e6aa5-1a1c-720d-a9b2-69981f8f4ab4" xlink:type="arc" order="15"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-788b-a10a-4352b3d1ade8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1c-7084-bd3e-78d5fbdcdccf" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-788b-a10a-4352b3d1ade8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7e5a-8d09-24592bbbb8b5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-788b-a10a-4352b3d1ade8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1c-7e5a-8d09-24592bbbb8b5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d83-be11-8cc7b168e92d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-788b-a10a-4352b3d1ade8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d83-be11-8cc7b168e92d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7307-88cd-3b06ee4aa39e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1c-788b-a10a-4352b3d1ade8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7307-88cd-3b06ee4aa39e" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c22-9f8a-c21145341323" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b85-9010-49b541795ba2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c22-9f8a-c21145341323" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7207-aa14-6edbf8ce08e2" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c22-9f8a-c21145341323" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7207-aa14-6edbf8ce08e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7281-9c7c-50a2be5e1be1" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c22-9f8a-c21145341323" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7281-9c7c-50a2be5e1be1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-710c-9789-8799d048e440" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c22-9f8a-c21145341323" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-710c-9789-8799d048e440" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MajorCustomersAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f6f-ba64-8bb09d55b56f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-75e7-89cf-c25d781db6b6" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f6f-ba64-8bb09d55b56f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_ExternalCustomerMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7214-bf38-79a95bc791dc" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_ExternalCustomerMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f6f-ba64-8bb09d55b56f" xlink:to="loc_chdn_ExternalCustomerMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7214-bf38-79a95bc791dc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7211-baee-291b6061e50e" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_PariMutuelLiveAndSimulcastRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7804-aa3c-bdd1432ed632" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_PariMutuelLiveAndSimulcastRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:to="loc_chdn_PariMutuelLiveAndSimulcastRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7804-aa3c-bdd1432ed632" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_PariMutuelHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ee-9c9a-5429be5b73dd" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_PariMutuelHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:to="loc_chdn_PariMutuelHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ee-9c9a-5429be5b73dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RacingEventRelatedServicesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f9-99f8-905469d741f7" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RacingEventRelatedServicesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RacingEventRelatedServicesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f9-99f8-905469d741f7" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7acd-8547-f5082cfcebdb" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7acd-8547-f5082cfcebdb" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-714d-bad3-f9df7da3314a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b0e-b3f8-94d87c49e8c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProductAndServiceOtherMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-714d-bad3-f9df7da3314a" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019e6aa5-1a1c-7207-8add-86bdd24f06bf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7753-80d1-0335c35f4fa6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-714e-8a1d-ba23ef2bd8a2" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7753-80d1-0335c35f4fa6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-78ab-b84a-73a0557543e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RelatedPartyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7753-80d1-0335c35f4fa6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RelatedPartyMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-78ab-b84a-73a0557543e8" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-7198-8120-c5174dc9e62f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7048-a3eb-a5753866a4d5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-7198-8120-c5174dc9e62f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DisclosureOfComplimentaryRevenue_019e6aa5-1a1d-7168-939d-57c2419d35ea" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DisclosureOfComplimentaryRevenue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7048-a3eb-a5753866a4d5" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DisclosureOfComplimentaryRevenue_019e6aa5-1a1d-7168-939d-57c2419d35ea" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SupplementalBalanceSheetInformationScheduleofAccountsReceivableDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#SupplementalBalanceSheetInformationScheduleofAccountsReceivableDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SupplementalBalanceSheetInformationScheduleofAccountsReceivableDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f75-8353-0b1990ba6749" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7973-a5d8-d562e73e3dc8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f75-8353-0b1990ba6749" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7973-a5d8-d562e73e3dc8" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7973-a5d8-d562e73e3dc8" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fb3-bb2f-d01f733f98e6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fc5-babd-60fa05ff6cce" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fb3-bb2f-d01f733f98e6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TradeAccountReceivableMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-78da-8cb3-c5bb7d6d63ac" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TradeAccountReceivableMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fb3-bb2f-d01f733f98e6" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TradeAccountReceivableMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-78da-8cb3-c5bb7d6d63ac" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SimulcastAndAdwReceivablesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-712c-b939-1555d6f70af1" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SimulcastAndAdwReceivablesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fb3-bb2f-d01f733f98e6" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SimulcastAndAdwReceivablesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-712c-b939-1555d6f70af1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OtherReceivablesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be1-ad70-3996f7f860e8" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OtherReceivablesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fb3-bb2f-d01f733f98e6" xlink:to="loc_chdn_OtherReceivablesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be1-ad70-3996f7f860e8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-767c-a646-a8a4308fdf41" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f75-8353-0b1990ba6749" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-767c-a646-a8a4308fdf41" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ae7-8054-9b65d4d212d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f75-8353-0b1990ba6749" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ae7-8054-9b65d4d212d9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7307-8c19-aaf1ed528404" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f75-8353-0b1990ba6749" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7307-8c19-aaf1ed528404" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-762e-bc0b-b4e39e3b2816" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestByLegalEntityTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-71b3-ae97-bb04330d4e58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestByLegalEntityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-762e-bc0b-b4e39e3b2816" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestByLegalEntityTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-71b3-ae97-bb04330d4e58" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestByLegalEntityTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-71b3-ae97-bb04330d4e58" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75c6-982b-8d47df80edef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ef-98e1-5bc75fb84bce" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75c6-982b-8d47df80edef" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_UnitedToteCompanyMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a3c-b532-43e5957daaf5" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_UnitedToteCompanyMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75c6-982b-8d47df80edef" xlink:to="loc_chdn_UnitedToteCompanyMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a3c-b532-43e5957daaf5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestByLegalEntityTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-71b3-ae97-bb04330d4e58" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-729f-ba9a-7e3ca8deae6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7144-ad96-d1012a16ec9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-729f-ba9a-7e3ca8deae6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoSalemMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b76-b2fb-b83454313aaa" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoSalemMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AssetAcquisitionDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-729f-ba9a-7e3ca8deae6d" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoSalemMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b76-b2fb-b83454313aaa" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsPercentageSold_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a8e-8d4f-ba4bbb08a4aa" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsPercentageSold"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-762e-bc0b-b4e39e3b2816" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsPercentageSold_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a8e-8d4f-ba4bbb08a4aa" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-1a1d-79d9-af91-6652cbb28457" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-762e-bc0b-b4e39e3b2816" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AssetAcquisitionVotingEquityInterestAcquiredPercentage_019e6aa5-1a1d-79d9-af91-6652cbb28457" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward_019e6aa5-1a1d-7122-8f40-ac9315a876be" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-762e-bc0b-b4e39e3b2816" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward_019e6aa5-1a1d-7122-8f40-ac9315a876be" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount_019e6aa5-1a1d-72b3-8e64-d6b971bdea54" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward_019e6aa5-1a1d-7122-8f40-ac9315a876be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount_019e6aa5-1a1d-72b3-8e64-d6b971bdea54" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-1a1d-7761-b87f-ccfb575d4b4a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward_019e6aa5-1a1d-7122-8f40-ac9315a876be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-1a1d-7761-b87f-ccfb575d4b4a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquityAccretionToRedemptionValueAdjustment_019e6aa5-1a1d-7940-8216-f0d5337e5b8f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TemporaryEquityAccretionToRedemptionValueAdjustment"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_chdn_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestRollforwardRollForward_019e6aa5-1a1d-7122-8f40-ac9315a876be" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TemporaryEquityAccretionToRedemptionValueAdjustment_019e6aa5-1a1d-7940-8216-f0d5337e5b8f" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount_019e6aa5-1a1d-7969-bd59-51f4143f8b9e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAdditionalInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAdditionalInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7289-a73c-09ab247a302a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7289-a73c-09ab247a302a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7289-a73c-09ab247a302a" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-710e-a9e2-7c90ed3c92e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a5e-bdbd-9c867a6c651b" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-710e-a9e2-7c90ed3c92e0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_HighPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f65-8589-3536b954af48" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_HighPlainesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-710e-a9e2-7c90ed3c92e0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_HighPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f65-8589-3536b954af48" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_CasinoInvestorsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-70f3-a080-156f06e00c61" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_CasinoInvestorsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-710e-a9e2-7c90ed3c92e0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_CasinoInvestorsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-70f3-a080-156f06e00c61" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_DelawareNorthCompaniesGamingEntertainmentInc.Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-75c1-af94-68bceaf5c4b2" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_DelawareNorthCompaniesGamingEntertainmentInc.Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-710e-a9e2-7c90ed3c92e0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_DelawareNorthCompaniesGamingEntertainmentInc.Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-75c1-af94-68bceaf5c4b2" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7289-a73c-09ab247a302a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cbe-8613-8a55eb0b8445" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7054-a6e7-b05f16b4ac1b" xlink:to="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cbe-8613-8a55eb0b8445" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fbf-a386-7dfa1c3a3530" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cbe-8613-8a55eb0b8445" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fbf-a386-7dfa1c3a3530" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_MiamiValleyGamingLLCMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-766a-8741-ea79c3224e42" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_MiamiValleyGamingLLCMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_EquityMethodInvesteeNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cbe-8613-8a55eb0b8445" xlink:to="loc_chdn_MiamiValleyGamingLLCMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-766a-8741-ea79c3224e42" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e8c-829d-21f3b06be5cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e8c-829d-21f3b06be5cd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity_019e6aa5-1a1d-7953-b001-954905a56f20" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity_019e6aa5-1a1d-7953-b001-954905a56f20" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f8e-8b61-3f3993eef6e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f8e-8b61-3f3993eef6e5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions_019e6aa5-1a1d-7091-913f-63ef725fef6c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7567-b523-766aa8af984c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions_019e6aa5-1a1d-7091-913f-63ef725fef6c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateIncomeStatementDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateIncomeStatementDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateIncomeStatementDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7982-8fd6-994cc440844e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7982-8fd6-994cc440844e" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7982-8fd6-994cc440844e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b37-9b93-a28daf233f25" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7210-ae95-163180d420c6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b37-9b93-a28daf233f25" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f44-8330-4f4e97d9816b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b37-9b93-a28daf233f25" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f44-8330-4f4e97d9816b" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-71d6-ab9f-36223501cc93" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-71d6-ab9f-36223501cc93" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-70f6-a985-17b3a64664ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-70f6-a985-17b3a64664ef" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-70a4-84e5-92249a7a52e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-70a4-84e5-92249a7a52e8" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ff7-99e6-94aab139fd56" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ff7-99e6-94aab139fd56" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-797b-8c7d-6978a5e0e2f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-797b-8c7d-6978a5e0e2f5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7bab-86d5-bc9bf777aaba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7caa-b73f-e9e1d5704013" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7bab-86d5-bc9bf777aaba" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateBalanceSheetDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateBalanceSheetDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/InvestmentsinandAdvancestoUnconsolidatedAffiliatesAffiliateBalanceSheetDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-70fb-ba32-80179da9a635" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-757b-89cb-02d3b6ae347f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-70fb-ba32-80179da9a635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-757b-89cb-02d3b6ae347f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-757b-89cb-02d3b6ae347f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c3-a837-29801fb91fb6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a68-af5b-0adb32de8b75" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c3-a837-29801fb91fb6" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-720e-b023-2ae775217537" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c3-a837-29801fb91fb6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentNonconsolidatedInvesteeOrGroupOfInvesteesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-720e-b023-2ae775217537" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-70fb-ba32-80179da9a635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetsCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-789f-bb06-dcc490fc04dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetsCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetsCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-789f-bb06-dcc490fc04dc" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAndOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_019e6aa5-1a1d-793d-8f69-b008c930fce4" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAndOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:to="loc_chdn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAndOperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset_019e6aa5-1a1d-793d-8f69-b008c930fce4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7584-b8c4-f911152ef7b2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7584-b8c4-f911152ef7b2" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e6aa5-1a1d-71be-aa89-507e63add426" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-99de-3f5a5cd32eaa" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e6aa5-1a1d-71be-aa89-507e63add426" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-70fb-ba32-80179da9a635" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a99-a2cd-d02377beb9ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a99-a2cd-d02377beb9ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e6aa5-1a1d-7831-9346-481bb0a7aa8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019e6aa5-1a1d-7831-9346-481bb0a7aa8d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a12-9019-fb0bd7df386e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a12-9019-fb0bd7df386e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ee2-aa3b-60bd5779c349" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ee2-aa3b-60bd5779c349" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b63-817f-45c2bf2ace23" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquityAbstract_019e6aa5-1a1d-78bf-a13b-621c1840f698" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b63-817f-45c2bf2ace23" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/FairValueOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#FairValueOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/FairValueOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d71-8cf2-b017ec6cdeae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d71-8cf2-b017ec6cdeae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-78c5-8e7d-77f7f52432de" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-9c30-d513ca8bb31e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-78c5-8e7d-77f7f52432de" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f0-be11-93745b61a19c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueDisclosureItemAmountsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-78c5-8e7d-77f7f52432de" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f0-be11-93745b61a19c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74f7-9ea4-51e7cc4e7d87" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f0-be11-93745b61a19c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74f7-9ea4-51e7cc4e7d87" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f52-aefb-c3db94258145" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-71f0-be11-93745b61a19c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f52-aefb-c3db94258145" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ec2-bffa-dc9c7c20336d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7865-a8c0-93af9974dcaf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ec2-bffa-dc9c7c20336d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7069-9f12-8284c8dc38e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ec2-bffa-dc9c7c20336d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7069-9f12-8284c8dc38e5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-70d3-a344-912151b8db55" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ec2-bffa-dc9c7c20336d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-70d3-a344-912151b8db55" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7da4-9704-d326b33eafa5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-b220-52d7fe112890" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanB1Due2028Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-b220-52d7fe112890" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_TermLoanAMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7476-aed5-1af7131bbbec" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_TermLoanAMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_TermLoanAMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7476-aed5-1af7131bbbec" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RevolverMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e09-acfe-379a640e50a9" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RevolverMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RevolverMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e09-acfe-379a640e50a9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-8c70-4a0a586695fc" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2027Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c2d-8c70-4a0a586695fc" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-73a6-a118-691bc563bc5f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2028Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-73a6-a118-691bc563bc5f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e21-ab65-32f2948befad" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2030Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e21-ab65-32f2948befad" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ff-8938-48cd5346aa9c" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-726b-b91f-2637fb877b48" xlink:to="loc_chdn_SeniorNotesDue2031Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-71ff-8938-48cd5346aa9c" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-756f-acf9-1dd937f8b508" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-784e-9489-33917324c7a3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-756f-acf9-1dd937f8b508" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-799a-b291-7dffaf1a9d92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-756f-acf9-1dd937f8b508" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-799a-b291-7dffaf1a9d92" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7485-a08f-371b88cb17ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7eca-837e-ee0e66fe5322" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e28-be04-beed3c53bd8d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7eca-837e-ee0e66fe5322" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cb9-b820-62ce1473d9e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7eca-837e-ee0e66fe5322" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cb9-b820-62ce1473d9e5" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-792d-9800-3c40eeb146af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7eca-837e-ee0e66fe5322" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-792d-9800-3c40eeb146af" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cf3-8431-cceb90839fb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7eca-837e-ee0e66fe5322" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_019e6aa5-1a1d-7cf3-8431-cceb90839fb1" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_019e6aa5-1a1d-746b-a3a3-c184aeeb2d36" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d71-8cf2-b017ec6cdeae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue_019e6aa5-1a1d-746b-a3a3-c184aeeb2d36" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ef-821b-da311b85faa9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d71-8cf2-b017ec6cdeae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ef-821b-da311b85faa9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#SegmentInformationNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationNetRevenueFromExternalCustomersandIntercompanyRevenueFromEachOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7185-9095-a22823651e82" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-9cd1-3c9bcee4355d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7185-9095-a22823651e82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-9cd1-3c9bcee4355d" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-9cd1-3c9bcee4355d" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7955-a8c4-b01d80c398dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-8e8d-f9f4d2aa0a94" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7955-a8c4-b01d80c398dd" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7872-9343-8de2adfdbf54" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7955-a8c4-b01d80c398dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7872-9343-8de2adfdbf54" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-780a-a950-6ad9f495e15f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7955-a8c4-b01d80c398dd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-780a-a950-6ad9f495e15f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MajorCustomersAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-9cd1-3c9bcee4355d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75fe-9dcb-edd1195ca574" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_MajorCustomersAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ba-bd85-9a1f3dc4cc40" xlink:to="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75fe-9dcb-edd1195ca574" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_ExternalCustomerMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ab0-b103-eef7c773614f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_ExternalCustomerMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_NameOfMajorCustomerDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-75fe-9dcb-edd1195ca574" xlink:to="loc_chdn_ExternalCustomerMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ab0-b103-eef7c773614f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7335-9cd1-3c9bcee4355d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dcb-a648-9a7376619062" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ac4-8b3b-83e5f43b86ec" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dcb-a648-9a7376619062" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74a1-b658-6e78c45fcd84" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dcb-a648-9a7376619062" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74a1-b658-6e78c45fcd84" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7051-a6ac-80b7a049e094" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dcb-a648-9a7376619062" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7051-a6ac-80b7a049e094" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-72e5-ad37-081636f95980" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dcb-a648-9a7376619062" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-72e5-ad37-081636f95980" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-7400-b405-9164672177dd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7185-9095-a22823651e82" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019e6aa5-1a1d-7400-b405-9164672177dd" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#SegmentInformationScheduleofAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7687-a383-155458f676a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7687-a383-155458f676a0" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7687-a383-155458f676a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73b4-b562-82b633c88b0b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7318-a2e7-0f78034dfa41" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73b4-b562-82b633c88b0b" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b68-ad1f-5fb0db84fc87" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73b4-b562-82b633c88b0b" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b68-ad1f-5fb0db84fc87" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e8a-862e-79f63c2a62ed" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73b4-b562-82b633c88b0b" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e8a-862e-79f63c2a62ed" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7967-b51a-740ca2b4d49d" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73b4-b562-82b633c88b0b" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7967-b51a-740ca2b4d49d" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7687-a383-155458f676a0" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b3f-bcd1-04199b3d9999" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7077-b35a-5ab104e0775c" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b3f-bcd1-04199b3d9999" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a7c-85f8-c704ff7be116" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b3f-bcd1-04199b3d9999" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a7c-85f8-c704ff7be116" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ef-9033-3c05f07c737c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019e6aa5-1a1d-70ef-9033-3c05f07c737c" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_PariMutuelTaxesAndPurses_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-b36d-5035f8c1817f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_PariMutuelTaxesAndPurses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_PariMutuelTaxesAndPurses_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b2e-b36d-5035f8c1817f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingTaxes_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f9a-978a-3e6f1df84807" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingTaxes"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingTaxes_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f9a-978a-3e6f1df84807" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-78ee-ac77-facd23f24637" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-78ee-ac77-facd23f24637" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dd6-8c35-f8be6724329f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-7dd6-8c35-f8be6724329f" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_ContentExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-79fb-ad06-f4d5366c51b7" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_ContentExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_ContentExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-79fb-ad06-f4d5366c51b7" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AdjustedEBITDASellingGeneralAdministrativeExpenses_019e6aa5-1a1d-7166-80c0-638974ce78d5" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AdjustedEBITDASellingGeneralAdministrativeExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AdjustedEBITDASellingGeneralAdministrativeExpenses_019e6aa5-1a1d-7166-80c0-638974ce78d5" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceAndOperations_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d55-96d2-6275a929ca2e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceAndOperations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_UtilitiesOperatingExpenseMaintenanceAndOperations_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d55-96d2-6275a929ca2e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_EquipmentAndTechnologyExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-758b-a8cc-a781dc360c54" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_EquipmentAndTechnologyExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_EquipmentAndTechnologyExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-758b-a8cc-a781dc360c54" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_FoodAndBeverageExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e4a-9856-6402ea9ff109" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_FoodAndBeverageExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_FoodAndBeverageExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e4a-9856-6402ea9ff109" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ccb-9ad4-e8d9f963295a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ccb-9ad4-e8d9f963295a" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-1a1d-78db-96ec-e20648ecf3ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments_019e6aa5-1a1d-78db-96ec-e20648ecf3ae" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OtherincomeexpenseAdjustedEBITDA_019e6aa5-1a1d-760d-a00c-0864981b20ae" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OtherincomeexpenseAdjustedEBITDA"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_OtherincomeexpenseAdjustedEBITDA_019e6aa5-1a1d-760d-a00c-0864981b20ae" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-786e-8838-2a1ad470965b" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-705c-951c-948505de0bbf" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-786e-8838-2a1ad470965b" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationReconciliationofComprehensiveIncometoAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#SegmentInformationReconciliationofComprehensiveIncometoAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationReconciliationofComprehensiveIncometoAdjustedEBITDAbySegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ca3-b16e-d5948f01d12a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ca3-b16e-d5948f01d12a" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ca3-b16e-d5948f01d12a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e56-9245-f2b9a03054f5" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f9c-b6cf-0f0f2a516d53" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:to="loc_chdn_RiversDesPlainesMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f9c-b6cf-0f0f2a516d53" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fe7-b888-9a63c346bbe7" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fe7-b888-9a63c346bbe7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74c9-a912-33a0acfff848" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-74c9-a912-33a0acfff848" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d26-84e9-3e561da0b30a" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c77-88e5-3f825a0aff0f" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d26-84e9-3e561da0b30a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ca3-b16e-d5948f01d12a" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73f9-bcc5-57a32b72cfcb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7be9-9e84-e9bfdccfb1e5" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73f9-bcc5-57a32b72cfcb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-756c-954f-afde1418c54a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73f9-bcc5-57a32b72cfcb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-756c-954f-afde1418c54a" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1a-beb7-cbd6dd265d16" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-73f9-bcc5-57a32b72cfcb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1a-beb7-cbd6dd265d16" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f7e-b4a8-a19f66e039e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-7f7e-b4a8-a19f66e039e2" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-1a1d-7984-a0bb-cdb938ba6a9a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest_019e6aa5-1a1d-7984-a0bb-cdb938ba6a9a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-760b-85ac-24b6cc48ef80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ProfitLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ProfitLoss_019e6aa5-1a1d-760b-85ac-24b6cc48ef80" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-724e-901a-9eede3a57928" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-724e-901a-9eede3a57928" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fd3-ab48-d8d692b57a11" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-7fd3-ab48-d8d692b57a11" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e32-8752-292300c7078d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019e6aa5-1a1d-7e32-8752-292300c7078d" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-78b5-ae59-6f1c11386164" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-78b5-ae59-6f1c11386164" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts_019e6aa5-1a1d-7466-969c-0f4ad35f0e95" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts_019e6aa5-1a1d-7466-969c-0f4ad35f0e95" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OtherExpensesNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-74b3-b45d-e2f3f72326bc" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OtherExpensesNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_OtherExpensesNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-74b3-b45d-e2f3f72326bc" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_019e6aa5-1a1d-7460-8482-25f3394e58b5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges_019e6aa5-1a1d-7460-8482-25f3394e58b5" xlink:type="arc" order="9"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AcquisitionRelatedContingentConsiderationCosts_019e6aa5-1a1d-7254-9b66-458f14af2958" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AcquisitionRelatedContingentConsiderationCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AcquisitionRelatedContingentConsiderationCosts_019e6aa5-1a1d-7254-9b66-458f14af2958" xlink:type="arc" order="10"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_EquityInvestmentsinterestdepreciationandamortizationexpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-79a9-965d-9f473530d5ea" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_EquityInvestmentsinterestdepreciationandamortizationexpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_EquityInvestmentsinterestdepreciationandamortizationexpense_019e6aa5-1a1d-79a9-965d-9f473530d5ea" xlink:type="arc" order="11"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_OtherChargesIncomeAndRecoveriesNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-7743-b922-651d252312bd" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_OtherChargesIncomeAndRecoveriesNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_OtherChargesIncomeAndRecoveriesNet_019e6aa5-1a1d-7743-b922-651d252312bd" xlink:type="arc" order="12"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AdjustmentsToEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-758b-81e1-eb6a70663f46" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AdjustmentsToEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationAndAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AdjustmentsToEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationAndAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-758b-81e1-eb6a70663f46" xlink:type="arc" order="13"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b69-984a-2cfe119a6b36" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-79ea-8aa9-cc149b34a1ba" xlink:to="loc_chdn_AdjustedEarningsBeforeInterestTaxDepreciationandAmortization_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b69-984a-2cfe119a6b36" xlink:type="arc" order="14"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofTotalAssetsandCapitalExpendituresbyOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#SegmentInformationScheduleofTotalAssetsandCapitalExpendituresbyOperatingSegmentDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.churchilldowns.com/role/SegmentInformationScheduleofTotalAssetsandCapitalExpendituresbyOperatingSegmentDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ed2-a64c-9878ce94180b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-72c3-b8b3-0a26819802ac" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ed2-a64c-9878ce94180b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-72c3-b8b3-0a26819802ac" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-72c3-b8b3-0a26819802ac" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-77e2-ad2d-2ad416e8b1c3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-7a1d-a706-b08db1f9ceb9" xlink:to="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-77e2-ad2d-2ad416e8b1c3" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7628-96a7-b6ea17dc44d4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-77e2-ad2d-2ad416e8b1c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7628-96a7-b6ea17dc44d4" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-770e-a765-c4d59761e723" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ConsolidationItemsDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-77e2-ad2d-2ad416e8b1c3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-770e-a765-c4d59761e723" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019e6aa5-1a1d-72c3-b8b3-0a26819802ac" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7294-8cf6-304d2e6af4d0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019e6aa5-1a1d-71c8-8459-dd48270488b4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7294-8cf6-304d2e6af4d0" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b55-b721-0bf79cd4d608" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7294-8cf6-304d2e6af4d0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_LiveAndHistoricalRacingMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7b55-b721-0bf79cd4d608" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-79c2-b6af-702fcc65813f" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7294-8cf6-304d2e6af4d0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_WageringServicesAndSolutionsMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-79c2-b6af-702fcc65813f" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c60-a50b-62a51657b3a9" xlink:href="chdn-20260630.xsd#chdn_GamingSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019e6aa5-1a1d-7294-8cf6-304d2e6af4d0" xlink:to="loc_chdn_GamingSegmentMember_019e6aa5-1a1d-7c60-a50b-62a51657b3a9" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d28-8aeb-bfc877ee2f26" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Assets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ed2-a64c-9878ce94180b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Assets_019e6aa5-1a1d-7d28-8aeb-bfc877ee2f26" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets_019e6aa5-1a1d-7411-bc1e-3f64732312a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019e6aa5-1a1d-7ed2-a64c-9878ce94180b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentExpenditureAdditionToLongLivedAssets_019e6aa5-1a1d-7411-bc1e-3f64732312a7" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
