John Asher's Blog

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John Asher, vice-president of Communications at Churchill Downs, has worked in the Thoroughbred racing industry as a journalist and a publicist for more than 20 years.

Asher joined Churchill Downs in January 1997 and has served in his current position since March 1999. In that position he oversees communications and public relations efforts at Churchill Downs, the home of the world famous Kentucky Derby and the flagship operation of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

As a radio journalist at WHAS-AM and WAVE-AM in Louisville he earned five Eclipse Awards for "Outstanding National Radio Coverage of Thoroughbred Racing" and several other awards that recognized his coverage of the horse industry. His work on other issues earned recognition that included a National Headliner Award, a Scripps-Howard Award, and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio & Television News Directors Association and the Kentucky Broadcasters Association. The Associated Press honored Asher as the "Best Reporter" in Kentucky Large Market Radio seven times.

He was recognized in 2003 as "Public Relations Practitioner of the Year" by the Western Kentucky University School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

The native of Leitchfield, Ky. is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism.

Asher is a past president of the Turf Publicists of America and serves as vice-president of Kentucky Thoroughbred Media.

Asher is a member of the board of trustees of WLKY-32's Spirit of Louisville Foundation, which oversees the annual Bell Awards; the board of directors of the Kentuckiana Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, on which he serves as vice president of communications; the boards of directors of the Western Kentucky University Alumni Association and the Catholic Education Foundation; and the Presentation Academy board of trustees.

He lives in Louisville with his wife, Dee, and three daughters.