Management

Executive Officers

show all hide all

Robert L. Evans

President and Chief Executive Officer, Churchill Downs Incorporated

A results-driven leader with a proven record of innovation, Robert L. Evans became Churchill Downs Incorporated's ("CDI") 11th president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors in August 2006. Evans brings a richly diverse business background to CDI, having held senior executive positions at some of North America's leading manufacturing, business consulting, technology and private equity companies.

Prior to joining CDI, Evans was a co-founder and managing director of Symphony Technology Group ("STG"), a private equity firm that provides investment capital and strategic direction to software and services companies. Companies in STG's portfolio have a combined $1.2 billion in revenue and more than 7,000 employees worldwide.

Before STG, Evans held numerous leadership positions that helped shape his skills as a business strategist and team builder. He served as president and chief operating officer of Aspect Development Inc., an enterprise software firm. Evans also served as managing partner of the Americas Supply Chain Practice for the $17 billion Accenture Ltd. (formerly Andersen Consulting) and helped grow Accenture's client base both inside and outside the United States.

Evans' professional experience includes the automotive industry where he served as vice president of customer support for Mazda Motor of America Inc. He began his career as an economics analyst for Caterpillar Inc. in 1975 and served in a variety of management positions for the heavy equipment manufacturer. In 1986, he co-founded the innovative outsourcing services subsidiary Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc., where he served as president.

Evans has been an active participant in the Thoroughbred industry as a commercial breeder and racehorse owner. He is the president of Tenlane Farm LLC, a 260-acre Thoroughbred breeding operation he built in Woodford County, Ky., where he resides with his family.

Evans is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from MacMurray College. He received a Master of Arts degree in quantitative economics from Western Illinois University. He currently serves as a board member for two corporations, Aftermarket Technology Corp. and the privately held Tumri Incorporated.

William C. Carstanjen

President and Chief Operating Officer

William C. Carstanjen was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) in March 2011, after previously serving as CDI's chief operating officer (2008-2011) and as executive vice president, general counsel and chief development officer for the company (2005-2008). Carstanjen joined CDI in July 2005 after serving as an executive with General Electric Company. Carstanjen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his leadership role at CDI.

A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Carstanjen received a law degree from Columbia University in New York and was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife and three children.

William E. Mudd

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

William "Bill" E. Mudd brings a broad business background, expertise in domestic and international markets, and exceptional leadership skills to his role as executive vice president and chief financial officer ("CFO") for Churchill Downs Incorporated, a position he assumed in October 2007.

A former General Electric ("GE") executive, Mudd oversees the Company's financial reporting, strategic planning, business planning, compliance, capital management, risk management and investor relations.

Mudd began his career with GE in 1992, and rose rapidly to positions of increased responsibility. Prior to joining Churchill Downs, he served as Global Commercial CFO for GE Water & Process Technologies, a water process and filtration business based in Trevose, Pa. He has also served as CFO of Supply Chain, IT and Technology Finance for GE's Consumer and Industrial Europe, Middle East and Africa Division in Budapest, Hungary. Earlier in his career he served as a finance manager of Global Financial Planning & Analysis and Business Development for GE Fanuc, a joint venture between GE and Japanese partner, Fanuc.

A native of Marion County, Ky., he holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and actuarial science from Bellarmine University. He also holds a masters of business administration from Webster University and was a captain in the United States Army Reserves with 14 years of service.

Rohit Thukral

Executive Vice President, Technology Initiatives
President, TwinSpires.com

Rohit Thukral serves as the Company's executive vice president of technology initiatives and president of the Company's national advance-deposit wagering platform, TwinSpires.com. Thukral brings a strong background in technology and business leadership to the position.

Thukral oversees the operations and development of TwinSpires.com, as well as other CDI technology initiatives. He assumed the position in May 2009, after two years with TwinSpires.com, where he served as vice president of product development. Thukral was a key member of the TwinSpires.com team since joining the Company in December 2006, and played a major role in the success of the Company's ADW initiative.

Prior to joining the Company, he served as vice president of product management for BDNA Corporation, a leading provider of IT infrastructure management solutions. He has also worked as senior director of software development for Aspect Development in California and held numerous positions within Mentor Graphics, a developer of electronic design automation software. Thukral holds an MBA from the University of California Los Angeles and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California.

Alan K. Tse

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

As executive vice president and general counsel for Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI"), Alan K. Tse (pronounced 'SAY) oversees all legal, corporate governance and compliance matters for the country's premier racing, gaming and entertainment company.

Tse joined CDI in March 2011 after previously serving as vice president and general counsel for LG Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A. Inc. ("LG") in San Diego, Calif., where he managed all legal affairs for the No. 2 cell phone manufacturer in the country with annual sales of more than $6 billion. During his tenure at LG, Tse directed the company's intellectual property strategy; managed relationships with government regulators, industry groups and alliances; and negotiated and managed all major sales and commercial contracts, including master purchase agreements with large telecommunications carriers such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint Wireless. Tse also served as a member of LG's executive management committee.

His professional history includes roles as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Ligos Corporation, a worldwide leader in video compression software technology, and as general counsel and vice president of strategic development and corporate secretary for Centerpoint Broadband Technologies, an optical telecommunications networking systems provider. Through these assignments, Tse gained significant entrepreneurial experience by overseeing corporate development activities, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, while also arranging joint venture and partnership agreements, preparing for initial public stock offerings, and securing private-equity financing.

Tse's solid background in merger and acquisition activities grew from his experience as a corporate securities attorney at the Palo Alto, Calif., law firm of Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP. There he represented a number of high-profile public companies in all merger and acquisition transactions while also ensuring his clients were compliant with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations.

Tse graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School after receiving his bachelor of arts in economics and political science from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a co-founder and board member of the Asian American Legal Foundation and in 2005 was named one of the "Best Lawyers Under 40" by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

The 39-year-old native of Hong Kong, China, who moved to the U.S. at the age of seven with his family, was a nationally ranked chess master and has coached nationally ranked youth chess players.

Senior Officers

show all hide all

Tim Bryant

President of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Senior Vice President, Churchill Downs Incorporated

Tim Bryant joined CDI in May 2010, as their Senior Vice President and President of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tim joined CDI after 15 years of experience in the gaming industry and comes from Harrah's New Orleans, where he served most recently as Vice President of Operations and Finance.

Tim's outstanding biography includes a Leadership Award given for inspiring others to provide excellent service and superior business results. Improved margins and efficiencies, with reduced costs and a commitment to customer service is a resounding theme in Tim's work experience.

T. Kevin Flanery

President, Churchill Downs Racetrack
Senior Vice President, Churchill Downs Incorporated

Kevin Flanery was named the 13th president of Churchill Downs Racetrack on July 13, 2009. He also serves as a senior vice president for Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Flanery joined Churchill Downs in December 2005 as vice president of national public affairs and was promoted to senior vice president of national public affairs and communications in March 2008.

During his career, Flanery held important state government posts. He served as secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from January 2001 to December 2002 and as deputy secretary of the Cabinet between June and December of 2000. In that role Flanery served as the Commonwealth's chief financial and procurement officer and led the Office of Finance Management, which controls the Commonwealth's debt and investment portfolio. Flanery also had oversight of the Department of Facilities Management, which designs, builds, operates and maintains state facilities. Part of his statutory responsibilities included serving as chairman of the Consensus Forecasting Group, which determines revenues available for appropriation by the governor and legislature of Kentucky.

Flanery's experience in state government extends to Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet where between October 1996 and May 2000 he served as deputy secretary and legislative liaison. In that post, Flanery managed all administrative functions for the Transportation Cabinet and served as its primary legislative strategist. An attorney, Flanery also served as the Transportation Cabinet's executive director for the Office of General Counsel between February and September of 1996 where he served as chief administrative and legal officer.

Prior to joining the Churchill Downs team, Flanery served as president and chief operating officer of Hagan Properties.

Flanery holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Bellarmine College and a juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Reginald Fullwood Jr.

General Manager, Harlow's Casino Resort & Hotel Senior Vice President, CDI

Reginald Fullwood Jr., a veteran gaming executive, joined Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") as a senior vice president for the company general manager of Harlow's Casino Resort & Hotel ("Harlow's") in July 2011. Fullwood oversees the management team and all operations of the Greenville, Miss., casino and hotel property and reports directly to CDI President and Chief Operating Officer William C. Carstanjen.

Before joining Harlow's, Fullwood served as senior vice president and general manager of Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, Colo. There he was responsible for the daily operation of a $150 million casino resort spa that included approximately 56,000-square feet of gaming space with a variety of slots and table games, a 536-room hotel, 15,000-square feet of meeting space, four restaurants, a spa and a team of 950 employees.

Fullwood's extensive gaming background also includes roles as vice president and operations controller for Harrah's Atlantic City where he was responsible for business planning and forecasting, financial analysis, compliance and internal controls, and a number of additional financial management duties. He also served as vice president of table games for the same Atlantic City casino and as Harrah's vice president of service strategy for the Atlantic City region. Fullwood started his gaming career as a customer service strategist for the Atlantic City Harrah's and Showboat properties, and his focus on delivery high-quality customer experiences has been a hallmark of each of his professional assignments, resulting in numerous Customer Service Quality Awards for the venues he represented.

A United States Military Academy ("West Point") graduate, Fullwood served in the United States Army for 10 years upon his graduation from West Point, achieving the rank of captain before transitioning from active duty. In the Army, Fullwood worked as an operations research systems analyst and developed plans for moving thousands of troops and millions of dollars of equipment into combat zones. He also commanded a company of 64 soldiers and 15 Blackhawk attack helicopters at Fort Drum, N.Y., which was on point for "Operation Uphold Democracy" in Haiti.

Fullwood received his master's degree in business administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a master of science degree in systems and project management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. At West Point, he earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science.

James E. Gay

Senior Vice President of Business Development

Ted Gay joined Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") as director of business development in March 2003.He was promoted to vice president in June 2006 and to senior vice president in January 2009. Gay is responsible for the identification and evaluation of the Company's business development opportunities, including potential acquisitions and partnerships.

Prior to his tenure with CDI, Gay lived in San Francisco and worked for Stanford Investment Group, an investment management firm catering to high net worth individuals. Previously, he held several positions with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, including positions in SunTrust's loan syndications and investment banking groups.

Gay holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Virginia. He currently serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana.

D. Brett Hale

Senior Vice President of Corporate & Government Relations

Brett Hale joined Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") as senior vice president in January 2010. Hale's responsibilities at CDI include corporate and government relations at the federal, state, and local level.

Prior to joining CDI, Hale served for nine years as vice president at the American Gaming Association (AGA) in Washington, DC, where he was tasked with implementation of federal government affairs strategy. His areas of emphasis included Internet gaming, travel and tourism, and tax policy.

Hale's experience in the public sector culminated in 2000, when he was named chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.). He also worked on the legislative staff of U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) from 1997 to 2000, managing a variety of issues including technology, gaming, aviation, surface transportation and professional sports. Hale's Capitol Hill experience began in 1993 in the office of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Hale received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. He also studied at the Kentucky Institute for International Studies in Munich, Germany.

Chuck Kenyon

SVP, Human Resources

Chuck Kenyon joined Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") as the Company's Human Resources leader in April, 2004. Combining his love of human resources with his love of horse racing, Kenyon describes his role at CDI as a dream job – one he looks forward to every day.

Kenyon credits several of his mentors during his 20+ years of human resources experience with helping him develop his focus on balancing the needs of employees with the needs of the business. During his 13 years at Motorola, he was the human resources leader of several business units with employees around the globe.

Kenyon was raised in western New York and is a graduate of Niagara University. He credits Niagara and their Vincentian tradition with creating and enhancing his deep appreciation of all types of people.

Kenyon resides in Shelbyville, KY with his wife Robin and their three dogs.

Austin Miller

President, Calder Casino & Race Course; SVP, CDI

Austin Miller is the Senior Vice President of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the President and General Manager of Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Previous to his Calder Casino appointment, Austin was the Executive Vice President of CDI's New Orleans' operations and the President of Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, since May of 2007.

Born in Baltimore, Md., Miller came to Fair Grounds after two years as vice president of gaming operations at Harrah's New Orleans and ten years with Grand Casinos, eventually as their senior vice president of operations for Grand Casino Gulfport, a position he held until moving to Harrah's New Orleans in June 2005.

Miller holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the boards of the Executive Leadership Council of New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

An outdoorsman and golfer, Austin Miller resides in Florida.

Ben Murr

President, United Tote Senior Vice President, Churchill Downs Incorporated

Ben Murr was named president of United Tote on June 2nd, 2010. He also serves as a Senior Vice President for Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Murr joined Churchill Downs in March of 2008 as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. As the Chief Information Officer, Ben was responsible for all of the IT systems of Churchill Downs Incorporated. This includes providing services for the world's most legendary race track, Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, along with Calder Race Course in Miami, FL, Fairgrounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA and Arlington Park Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL.

Prior to Churchill Downs, Ben worked for General Electric for 12 years. His final position was the Chief Technology Officer of the Americas for GE Industrial, located in Louisville, KY. In that role, Ben oversaw technical operations for the entire Industrial vertical.

He attended Bellarmine University and graduated with a B.A. in Economics in 1997. He joined General Electric Appliance's IMLP program following graduation and had rotations in various areas of IT. Ben completed his MBA at Bellarmine University in 2003.

Rebecca C. Reed

Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs, Corporate Compliance Officer and Secretary

Since joining Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") in 1994 as the Company's associate counsel, Rebecca Reed has played a major role in several key areas of the Company's growth and development -- including coordination of the Company's regulatory compliance efforts, support for its development activities and oversight of policies and procedures. Reed's strong performance of those duties led to her continued advancement in the Company. She now serves as senior vice president, senior counsel and chief compliance officer.

Before joining CDI, Reed spent a year and a half as vice president, corporate counsel and assistant secretary for Farm Credit Bank of Louisville, Ky., an agricultural lender serving 70,000 borrowers through a network of affiliated associations in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Reed earned her law degree from the UK School of Law. She entered private practice with the Louisville firm of Brown, Todd & Heyburn, where her efforts were concentrated in areas of commercial lending, municipal finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Donald R. Richardson

Senior Vice President, Racing

The landscape of the Thoroughbred racing industry is rich and varied, with its participants and major players coming from all over the world and quite literally from all walks of life. As senior vice president, racing, Don Richardson draws on the lessons of a lifetime in racing as he deals with the concerns of people at all levels of the industry while overseeing a racing program that has grown to be become one of America's premier racing products.

Richardson is responsible for policy development, strategy and horsemen's services for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its developing markets in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Louisiana. He joined Churchill Downs as the track's stakes coordinator in August 1990 and continues in that role.

Under Richardson, steeplechase racing returned to Churchill Downs in 1997 for the first time since the early 1900's and the $100,000 guaranteed Hard Scuffle Steeplechase, a Grade I National Steeplechase Association race, is now an annual event on the Churchill Downs stakes schedule. Richardson was also the catalyst behind the track's successful Kentucky Derby Alumni Day, an annual event that celebrates the history of the Kentucky Derby and brings Derby-winning owners, trainers and jockeys back to Churchill Downs.

Richardson grew up around racing as his father ran the program department at Churchill Downs, Louisville's defunct Miles Park and the old Latonia (now Turfway Park) for more than 30 years. At 14, Richardson took his first job in racing as he took out an early work permit and started selling programs at Churchill Downs. He joined the track's racing office and worked as a patrol judge in 1969. After holding positions in racing at tracks throughout the Kentucky circuit, as well as racing positions at Florida's Hialeah and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, Richardson returned to Churchill Downs as assistant racing secretary from 1973-78 - and served as racing secretary in 1974.

In 1979, Richardson moved out of the racing office and into a new career as a jockey's agent, in which he guided the careers of such notable riders as Hall of Fame members Chris McCarron and Don Brumfield and veterans such as Jim McKnight, Keith Allen, Darrell Haire, Mike McDowell and others. He returned to Churchill Downs in 1989.