Churchill Downs' Asher Dies at Age 62

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Churchill Downs' Asher Dies at Age 62
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Photo: Coady Photography
Kentucky Derby Trophy Arrival - Churchill Downs - John Asher - 041316

John Asher, who in his role as vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs was the public face and voice of the iconic racetrack and the Kentucky Derby (G1), died of an apparent heart attack the morning of Aug. 27 at age 62 while on vacation in Florida.

Asher, who was born Nov. 22, 1955, and raised on his grandmother's farm near Leitchfield, Ky., majored in journalism at Western Kentucky University, leaving one course shy of a degree that he later attained. Asher began his career in radio broadcasting, first in Bowling Green, Ky., before moving on to the much larger Louisville market.

After an initial stint at WAVE, Asher moved to WHAS, where he became a visible part of that station's Derby and Churchill Downs coverage.

Asher joined Churchill in 1997, initially handling corporate communications before moving into racing publicity two years later. In his role, Asher became well-known and liked by owners, trainers, and other media in the racing community and his deep knowledge of the Derby and Churchill Downs made him one of the Derby's top historians.

"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 Churchill Downs racetrack president Kevin Flanery. "His passion for the Kentucky Derby, horseracing, his WKU Hilltoppers, great music, and above all else his loving family was genuine and infectious. 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."

Asher was much more than Churchill Downs' spokesman, Flanery noted in a 2015 interview with BloodHorse.

"He is our resident historian, our public voice, the keeper of Churchill Downs' legacy, and one of my closest advisers," the executive said. "His obvious passion for the sport, the horse, and the Kentucky Derby transcends titles such as 'publicist.'

"He is not just an asset for Churchill Downs, but the entire Thoroughbred industry," Flanery continued. "On a personal note, no one can find a better friend and confidant than I have found in John Asher. I have been fortunate that my time as president of Churchill Downs coincides with John's service."

He earned five Eclipse Awards for "Outstanding National Radio Coverage of Thoroughbred Racing" and was honored seven times by the Associated Press as Kentucky radio's "best reporter" in large-market radio. He later received the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year award and the Charles W. Englehard Award from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders for excellence in media coverage.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association noted how Asher had become the face of the Derby but made time in his life for family and many other interests.

"Over the past 20 years, no single person was more closely associated with the Kentucky Derby than John Asher. His knowledge of the Derby and his passion for its history and significance made him a popular speaker in Louisville, across the state of Kentucky and beyond," the NTRA said. "But his roots and passions ran much deeper. His alma mater, Western Kentucky. Music. Literature. Family. He was an award-winning journalist and a five-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding radio coverage of Thoroughbred racing. He was a friend and mentor to many of us here at the NTRA and to so many others who came across his path. Our deepest sympathies to his wife Dee, his three beautiful daughters, his grandchildren who made him so proud, and to the rest of his family and friends. All of us who were touched by his life will miss him deeply."

Asher was very active in Louisville community affairs, for which he received numerous honors, including being named "volunteer of the year" in 2004 by the Kentuckiana Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. He was also honored with WKU's "Summit Award" for his volunteerism.

"We at the Kentucky Derby Museum are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of John Asher," said Kentucky Derby Museum president and CEO Patrick Armstrong. "His love of the Kentucky Derby and the Thoroughbred racing industry ran deep, as did his endless knowledge of the sport. His warmth and his energy was contagious and endearing.

"When you met John, you were instantly drawn into his dynamic personality. Once you knew him, he always remembered you and he always had the answer to the question, 'How many days until the next Derby?' He wore his passion for his work, his family, and his community on his sleeve. We are sending our sincerest condolences to his wife, children, and grandchildren during this difficult time. We will miss this great friend of the Kentucky Derby Museum."

Breeders' Cup noted how John's love for racing would shine.

"All of us who love Thoroughbred racing were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Asher, who served our industry so ardently for the past 40 years. First as an award-winning broadcast journalist in Louisville, and then as a writer, publicist, and spokesperson for Churchill Downs, we will remember John as the heart and soul of the Kentucky Derby," Breeders' Cup said in a statement. "John's devotion to his work, complemented by his broad smile and unbridled enthusiasm for the sport that he loved so much made him a genuine giant in our game and a remarkable ambassador for horse racing. We extend our deepest sympathy to John's family and friends, and to all of his colleagues at Churchill Downs."

Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, remembered Asher as engaging and genuine, who left everyone feeling as though they were talking with a best friend.

"He understood the big picture and understood horsemen and fully appreciated that horsemen are equal partners with the racetrack in putting on racing," Maline said. "He was one of those guys who made everyone feel comfortable in talking with him. He could get horsemen to really communicate, even the guys who rarely talked. John could make them talk because they felt comfortable with him, like talking to your friend.

"t wasn’t the work that John did—it’s how he did it...He always said the right thing, in the right way and right context, no matter the situation. I remember in the wake of Eight Belles (fatal injury after the filly finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby). They put Larry Jones on the chopping block; people attacked him running Eight Belles against colts in the Derby. Finally somebody decided, 'Maybe we ought to have John give his take on it.' And it brought things back to center in the way he explained it," Maline said.

Asher is survived by his wife, Dee, three daughters, and two grandchildren.

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