Churchill Downs Incorporated announced July 13 that T. Kevin Flanery has been named the 13th track president of Churchill Downs Racetrack.
According to the announcement, Flanery, 43, will report to Bill Carstanjen, chief operating officer of CDI, and will remain a Company senior vice president. He replaces Steve Sexton, who in January of this year was named president and chief executive officer of a new wholly-owned subsidiary that will focus on entertainment management for CDI.
Flanery was hired as vice president of national public affairs for CDI in December 2005, and was named senior vice president of national public affairs and communications in March 2008.
The July 13 release said that while leading the Company’s legislative and communications initiatives, he directed the successful 2008 campaign to permit Calder Race Course to operate slot machines.
“Kevin’s diverse background in business, government and law has been an asset in his different roles with CDI,” said Robert L. Evans, president and chief executive officer of CDI. “His ability to work with our business partners and other constituencies will be invaluable as we create exciting new racing events for our loyal customers while attracting new fans to our sport.”
“Over the three years he’s spent in the industry, he’s proven that he can blend all that’s great about our history and tradition with the innovation and change necessary to drive racing into the future,” said Carstanjen.
“The opportunity to lead this nation’s most storied racetrack and the home of the Kentucky Derby is a special honor, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” said Flanery. “Preserving the traditions of the past while creating a new and exciting future for racing is a challenge I look forward to tackling, with the help and input of our horsemen, neighbors and customers.”
Before joining CDI, Flanery was secretary of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet and president of Hagan Properties, a real estate development company based in Louisville. He holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology from Bellarmine University and a juris doctor degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
CDI said it will conduct a search to fill Flanery’s prior roles as head of national public affairs and communications.