Elizabeth Harris, executive director of Thoroughbred Charities of America since 2004, has been named vice president of communications for Churchill Downs Inc. Harris will assume her new role Aug. 20.
Harris replaces Kevin Flanery, who was recently named president of Churchill Downs racetrack. Harris will report to CDI president and chief executive officer Robert Evans.
“Liz has a real passion for horses and Thoroughbred racing, and has a long list of significant accomplishments in different businesses,” Evans said in a statement. “She is exactly the kind of person with the type of background we want as part of our corporate team. I have personally observed the outstanding work that Liz has done as the leader of the TCA organization, and I am confident she will make a similarly great contribution to Churchill Downs Inc.”
TCA, based in Lexington, raises about $2 million a year that’s distributed to other charitable organizations involved in Thoroughbred rescue, retirement, and retraining programs as well as to research, education, jockey, and backstretch programs and therapeutic riding programs.
Prior to her work with TCA, Harris owned and operated a real estate firm in Long Island, N.Y., for 11 years.
“I am very proud of what TCA has accomplished over the 10 years that I have served on its board of directors and over the past five years as the organization’s executive director, so leaving is certainly bittersweet,” Harris said. “However, the opportunity to work with the outstanding team Mr. Evans has assembled at Churchill Downs Inc. was one that I could not pass up. It is an excellent way for me to carry forth my love of horses and expand my involvement in and impact on Thoroughbred racing.”