Churchill eyes California land

Churchill Downs Inc. has expressed interest in buying a piece of property in Irvine, Calif., that will go to auction later this year, according to a report in the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Dan Jung, Irvine's director of strategic programs, said in the report that "the folks at Churchill Downs have expressed interest" in the 3,700-acre site, once a Marine Corps air base.

Churchill Downs already owns Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., about 45 miles northwest of the site. Churchill officials would not comment on the report, citing the public company's policy not to comment on potential acquisitions.