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Horse racing world mourns the death of Churchill Downs VP, Racing Communications John Asher


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

Condolences are pouring in from throughout the thoroughbred horse racing industry and beyond after the unexpected death of Churchill Downs Vice President, Racing Communications John Asher.

Asher

Asher died Monday of an apparent heart attack while vacationing in Florida.

Darren Rogers, Senior Director, Communications & Media Services for Churchill Downs, said in a note accompanying a statement from Churchill Downs, “Like many of you, we are devastated by the news of John’s passing. I truly appreciate those that have already reached out with kind notes during this difficult time. Please keep his family and our family in your thoughts as we navigate through the shock of this news. I am truly sorry for your loss. Our loss.”

The statement released by Churchill Downs Monday:

“’To say that racing has lost one of its giants with the passing of John Asher does not begin to capture the impact this man has had and will continue to have on the Churchill Downs family,’ said Kevin Flanery, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “His passion for the Kentucky Derby, horseracing, his WKU Hilltoppers, great music, and above all else his loving family was genuine and infectious. Racing has lost an icon. I, and many others, have lost a kind and generous friend. We will miss John’s laugh, his unmistakable voice, and his unique storytelling. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife Dee, his daughters Heather, Erin and Emma and his grandsons, Cameron and Caden.”

Born Nov. 22, 1955 in Leitchfield, Ky., Asher was a proud alum of Western Kentucky University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

Prior to joining Churchill Downs, Asher was an award-winning radio journalist at WHAS-AM and WAVE-AM in Louisville, where he earned five Eclipse Awards for “Outstanding National Radio Coverage of Thoroughbred Racing” and countless other honors, including a National Headliner and Scripps-Howard Award and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, Radio and Television News Directors Association and Kentucky Broadcasters Association. Asher also was honored seven times by the Associated Press as Kentucky large market radio’s “Best Reporter.”

Flannery

Horse industry honors bestowed upon Asher include the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners’ Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year award in 2006; the Charles W. Engelhard Award for excellence in media coverage from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders; the Dean Eagle Award from the Knights of Columbus; and a media award from the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Asher was selected in March 2010 from a pool of more than 5,500 nominees from the region as one of 128 individuals recognized as Leadership Louisville’s Connectors. These “Connectors” are described as successful in getting things done because of their distinctive style of “trusted leadership.”

Asher was recognized in 2004 as “Public Relations Practitioner of the Year” by the Western Kentucky University School of Journalism and Broadcasting. A former president of the WKU National Alumni Board of Directors, Asher also was honored with a “Summit Award” for his volunteer efforts for the university.

Asher was well-known for his generous community service outreach and volunteerism. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Kentuckiana Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, and was honored as the chapter’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2004.

Mike Battaglia, the longtime Turfway Park track announcer, who also called races at Churchill Downs for almost 20 years, said he is heartsick to hear of the passing of his good friend.

Battaglia

“I have known John for almost 40 years and I don’t think I ever heard anyone say a bad word about him,” Battaglia said. “He has been a great ambassador for Churchill Downs and Thoroughbred Racing and a great friend to many people.  He was loved and will be deeply missed.  Sincere condolences to his wife Dee and the entire Asher family.”

National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) President and CEO Alex Waldrop said for the past 20 years, no single person was more closely associated with the Kentucky Derby than John Asher.

“His knowledge of the Derby and his passion for its history and significance made him a popular speaker in Louisville, across the state of Kentucky and beyond,” Waldrop said. “He was a friend and mentor to many of us here at the NTRA and to so many others who came across his path. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Dee, his three beautiful daughters, his grandchildren who made him so proud and to the rest of his family and friends. All of us who were touched by his life will miss him deeply.”

Turfway Park General Manager Daniel “Chip” Bach said Asher was the real deal.

“He was a great guy, a class act and a great ambassador for Churchill Downs,” Bach said.

Marty Maline, longtime executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA), which represents owners and trainers at the state’s five Thoroughbred tracks, knew John Asher for almost 40 years. Both men attended Sunday Mass on the Churchill Downs backside during the track’s race meets.

Maline said in a statement that they would always stop and trade stories.

“John would always ask what was going on with the HBPA, and I’d always ask what was going on with him. Everyone who knew him, you felt he was one of your best friends,” Maline said. “He was such an engaging guy. I know going to those Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners dinners the week before the Derby, they’d always invite John to give his perspective on that year’s Derby and he’d go down all the horses and his thoughts. Any who wasn’t totally enthusiastic about Derby would be after listening to John. Just a very genuine individual.”

Plans for a memorial service that could occur as early as next week will be finalized in the coming days, according to Dee Asher.

Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com

*Editor’s Note: Cover photo courtesy of Coady Photography


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