Churchill Downs: Reining in spend management for a winning edge in efficiency, scalability, and growth
Churchill Down’s move to cloud-driven procurement
Churchill Downs Incorporated, the iconic horse-racing complex, faced a race against inefficiency as rapid growth scattered its spend data across multiple systems. Using SAP Ariba solutions integrated with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, it unified processes and reclaimed control—helping ensure this legendary business runs like a champion filly.
| Industry | Region | Company Size |
| Media, sports, and entertainment | Louisville, Kentucky | 10,000 employees |
reduction in supply base, leading to more reliable value chain.
unified system to streamline spend data and procurement.
Vice President of Sourcing, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Confronting the limitations of disconnected systems and processes
Churchill Downs, famously known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, is more than just a horse racetrack for “the fastest two minutes in sports.” With a mission to provide extraordinary experiences across its properties, the company has expanded into a network of casinos, hotels, and entertainment venues nationwide. And this growth has brought both exciting opportunities and complex challenges, especially in spend management and procurement.
As Churchill Downs grew rapidly—nearly tripling in size over recent years—its existing systems struggled to keep up with the demands of modern spend management. Visibility into spending was fragmented, with data scattered across multiple systems, making it hard to get a clear picture of costs.
“We had data in many different places, and pulling it together was just so difficult for wanting to do something so simple,” shares John Westbrook, senior director of organizational change management at Churchill Downs. This lack of integration and control over spend across thousands of vendors became unsustainable as the company aimed to optimize resources and maintain its legacy of excellence.
Senior Director of Organizational Change Management, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Unifying spend management without compromising its legacy touch
To tackle its spend management challenges, Churchill Downs turned to SAP Ariba solutions and SAP Business Network. These solutions unified the company’s fragmented procurement processes, offering 360-degree visibility into vendor and category spending.
“We started our adoption by focusing on capabilities that could enhance our buying and invoicing processes, supplier lifecycle and performance, and sourcing activities to ground ourselves,” says Robert Weaver, vice president of sourcing at Churchill Downs.
But this initiative is not only a technical upgrade of its procurement processes—it’s a shift in business culture. Preparing the team involved comprehensive training and road shows to introduce the capabilities of SAP Ariba and SAP Business Network and build enthusiasm across the workforce. For seasoned and new employees alike, this shift offered a clear, intuitive path to more efficient and impactful procurement.
“Moving from no system to a best-in-class tool requires hands-on training, open communication, and consistent road shows to familiarize everyone with these powerful new resources,” Westbrook points out. “These efforts help everyone see these changes as positive steps, understand the end vision, and ultimately feel empowered by the tools at their fingertips.”
The implementation of SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition helps Churchill Downs cross the finish line. Connecting procurement, finance, and HR under one cloud ERP allows the company to meet its growth goals while staying true to its legacy of excellence.
Boosting revenue and lowering cost in a scalable, insightful environment
Through this transformation initiative, Churchill Downs achieved improvements that extend beyond procurement efficiency and get to the heart of what makes its business iconic.
“The countdown to the next Derby starts right after the last one,” notes Westbrook, emphasizing the relentless year-round dedication that makes these events memorable. “With SAP Ariba and SAP Business Network, we’re equipped to handle the smallest details—from managing supplier contracts to coordinating resources—with an integrated, 360-degree view of business operations.”
Within eight months, Churchill Downs also significantly trimmed its vendor network by more than 40%. “Reducing our vendor pool from 5,000 to 3,000 means we’re engaging with more-reliable partners,” Weaver remarks.
This shift in vendor engagement has strengthened the company’s supply chain and freed up resources for crucial investments in technology and capital projects. In addition, real-time data insights across spend categories have empowered employees to make data-driven, efficient decisions, enabling them to adapt quickly in an ever-changing environment.
Furthermore, with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition completing its transformation, Churchill Downs now enjoys a connected suite that consolidates procurement, finance, and HR. Weaver adds, “SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition allows us to dig deep into spend analytics, forecast cash flow accurately, and gain complete visibility across all financials.”
Vice President of Sourcing, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Creating a faster, more competitive track for future growth
The procurement journey with SAP solutions is just beginning for Churchill Downs. As the organization looks toward further expansion, SAP integrated solutions will continue to provide the critical foundation for spend management and vendor optimization.
“We chose SAP as our partner to drive the discipline, cost management, and control we need to be a more dynamic organization,” reflects Westbrook. “This strategic partnership will continue to unify our operations and sustain our rapid growth trajectory.”
With a focus on transparency, visibility, and data accuracy, Churchill Downs is looking forward to using SAP solutions to enhance customer and employee experiences by creating a consistent system that serves all stakeholders better.
“We’re building toward something bigger here at Churchill Downs. We’ve tripled in size in recent years, and SAP is the technology partner that will help us double and triple again,” concludes Weaver.
Want to know more about the Churchill Downs journey?
The Kentucky Derby Harnesses SAP Technology to Seize Every Winning Opportunity (Video)
Churchill Downs Makes Play for Growth with Cloud Solutions from SAP (SAP News Center Article)