Churchill Downs' John Asher dies; 'racing has lost an icon'

John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs, an avid promoter of the Kentucky Derby and a man known for his kind personality, has died at 62.

Churchill Downs confirmed Asher suffered a heart attack Monday morning while on vacation with his family in Orlando.

“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.

“...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.”

A native of Leitchfield, Ky., Asher earned his bachelor's in journalism from Western Kentucky University. He joined Churchill Downs in 1997 and became a well-known face of Kentucky Derby events. He began working as vice president of racing communications in 1999.

Before starting at Churchill, Asher won five Eclipse awards for "Outstanding National Radio Coverage of Thoroughbred Racing" as a reporter in addition to multiple other national honors for his work in media.

Asher loved his alma mater Western Kentucky's athletics programs and was known for both fine taste in music and an active Twitter account. His last post quoted the late John McCain:

"Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone."

Asher would want you to know we're just 250 days away from the Kentucky Derby day, on which he'd say it's always expected to be 70 degrees and sunny.

In March of 2010, he was selected 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 also 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.

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

Tributes from those in the racing industry poured in Monday: