Cisco Systems has secured a multiyear partnership with Churchill Downs Inc. to modernize the network infrastructure across its horse racing tracks, casinos, and resorts, starting in late 2026. The upgrade will involve refreshing over 7,000 switches and enhancing routing across 12 casinos and 18 racing venues, with centralized management via Cisco Catalyst Center to streamline provisioning and minimize downtime. Additionally, Churchill Downs will utilize the Splunk Observability Cloud for performance monitoring and Cisco Success Tracks for asset management and proactive maintenance.
The network modernization aims to improve connectivity for the 150,000+ annual Kentucky Derby attendees by supporting mobile ticketing, HD content sharing, and seamless access to betting platforms, while also enhancing operational systems like point-of-sale transactions. This deal further expands Cisco’s presence in the sports and entertainment sector, joining its existing partnerships with major organizations such as McLaren Formula 1, Real Madrid, and Madison Square Garden.
