Exhibit 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-85012, 333-62013, 33-61111, 333-41376, 333-43486, 333-100574, 333-106310, 333-116733 and 333-116734) of Churchill Downs Incorporated of our report dated March 15, 2005 relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Louisville, Kentucky

March 15, 2005