LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — The 2018 Big Sport of Turfdom award, which recognizes a person or group of people who enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists, will be presented posthumously to John Asher, the late vice president of Racing Communications at Churchill Downs.
Asher was president of the Turf Publicists of America, who announced the award, in 2000.
“The TPA’s tagline is ‘telling great stories since 1951,’ and no one told horse racing’s stories better than John Asher,” TPA President Rhonda Norby said. “The Big Sport of Turfdom award is about honoring a person who promotes the sport in cooperation with the media, and there is no one more deserving for this award than John.”
Asher, a lifelong racing fan, was an award-winning journalist at WHAS-AM and WAVE-AM before landed his dream job at Churchill Downs in 1997 and had served as vice president of Racing Communications since 1999. He passed away in August at the age of 62.
Asher was the face of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs for nearly every journalist who covered the race as well as other major events such as the Breeders’ Cup, which was held four times under the Twin Spires during his tenure.
“The continued outpouring of love and respect for John has truly helped his family, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult period,” Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs, said.
Asher's wife, Dee, will accept the Big Sports of Turfdom award an annual awards luncheon December 4.
“The way the racing community has embraced us since John’s passing has been truly humbling, and for him to be honored for doing what he loved so much means a lot,” Dee Asher said. “John would be thrilled with this recognition, especially coming from friends and colleagues in the industry.”
