The database and server that has capabilities to "talk" with Excel (from some experience a while back) was a horse race program designed by engineering programmer/s.
From what I recall, it was Firebird Server with a relational database, script editor and some form of GUI. http://www.firebirdsql.org/

I'm not a programmer, but had a script written according to my specs. to access the database in real time, do my selections, and a whole lot of other things.