john asher derby

", “I remember one Derby in particular, we were both parked in the barn area and the rain had come down and walking through the carnage of the infield just shuffling back to our cars," Rogers said. (Source: WAVE 3 News Archives) LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Louisville legend of horse racing and journalism is also being remembered as a cherished colleague and friend. Author John Asher, a native of Leitchfield, Ky., first fell in love with the Kentucky Derby after watching Proud Clarion upset the great Damascus in the 1967 running. Prominent figures in racing and in Louisville also mourned Asher’s death on Twitter. John Asher, the previous vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs, said there are several factors and that, indeed, the way a … Just one year after American Pharoah finally ended a drought of 37 years by winning the Kentucky Derby … The sport of kings will continue, enduring in its splendor but without one of its champions. "Happy Derby Day," Asher would say, extending his hand — a simple gesture, but one that became a meaningful tradition over the years. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel. After the race, he emceed the winners' press conference before hurrying back to his office to review notes and blast out notable statistics or observations. At this year's Kentucky Derby there is instead an oil portrait of Asher hanging on the wall, a painting donated to Churchill Downs by local artist Kasey Jackson. Nyquist Team Heads Derby, Oaks 142’s Biggest Winners. Stories and memories of Asher are as numerous as the crowds that traipse through the hallowed racetrack grounds year after year and as vivid as the garland of roses draped across the winning thoroughbred. Spend time at Churchill Downs any given week, but especially Kentucky Derby Week, and you experience the array of multitudes within the so-called sport of kings. Nyquist Team Heads Derby, Oaks 142’s Biggest Winners. He was 62. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. Asher, the longtime Churchill Downs spokesman and executive known for his love of horse racing and his encyclopedic knowledge of the sport’s … Horse Racing Has Lost a Legend in John Asher. But Asher went on to channel his passion for horse racing into a bubbly persona that left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Just a few of the quotes from those who knew him: Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert: “John was the warm human face of Churchill Downs. Asher spent most of the Derby roaming the grandstands and the paddock, striking up conversations with media, horsemen, staff and spectators. You can't replace John. "I think there's just a huge hole right in the center of everything we do," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. Horse racing industry remembers John Asher after death, John Asher was remembered by the many people who knew him through Churchill Downs. "That was when you knew it was real and how fortunate you were to be a part of it," Flanery said. Just terrible to hear of his passing. John Asher, the vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs Racetrack — the site of the annual Kentucky Derby in Louisville — died at age 62 on Monday after suffering a heart attack. Trainer Norm Casse: “John Asher was the only person I knew that loved Louisville, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby more than me. "It's the epitome of him," Dee Asher said. John Asher, an iconic and beloved member of the Churchill Downs family and Louisville community, passed away Monday morning after suffering a … To Dee Asher, the spirit of her husband is captured in a photo gifted to her after his death. His role as a vice president … Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? John Asher's devotion to the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs and horse racing were obvious anytime he was asked about those subjects, often weaving them together in entertaining tales. "People didn't know who I was and they would come up and grab me, and it was like they would explode if they couldn't tell me what John had done for them," said Tim Asher, John's brother. John Asher's Kentucky Derby 136 Update for Friday, April 10. The world knows John Asher as the voice of thoroughbred racing and its #1 fan – and he was the best. He was the face and the voice of the Kentucky Derby. Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat, Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90. Asher, who was described by his wife and brother as a quiet introvert, initially shocked his family after high school when he announced he was taking a job at a Leitchfield, Kentucky, radio station. There was no one I knew who loved this game more than @johnasher. Asher is survived by Dee and daughters Heather, Erin and Emma, the Courier Journal reported. Track staff admit they still find themselves walking to Asher's office to seek advice, or thinking he is going to walk through the door. Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. This experience gave birth to an enduring interest in the history and heritage of the famed race and created a fan for life. ", More Derby: For jockeys Irad and Jose Ortiz, the Kentucky Derby is a family affair. One parimutuel clerk said that John brought her chocolate every Kentucky Oaks Day and spent five minutes sharing it with her. Journalist, spokesman, storyteller, family man, Hilltopper. John Asher | May 12th, 2016. An irreplaceable ambassador for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, Asher joined Churchill Downs, home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, in January 1997, and he served as vice president of Racing Communications since March 1999. On Monday, Aug. 27, the racing world was jolted by the tragic news that John Asher, the longtime vice president of racing communications for Churchill Downs, had passed away suddenly from an apparent heart attack at the age of 62. By John Asher | May 12th, 2016. He was as Kentucky as the Derby, bluegrass, bourbon and hot browns. Asher's absence is no less noticeable since Churchill Downs hosted the Breeders' Cup in November, the first major event after his death at age 62. At Asher's visitation, his family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of gratitude and stories. On Kentucky Derby Day, Asher was a fixture at every stage: When the first riser stirs on the Churchill Downs backside before sunrise, when the gates open to receive a flood of well-dressed spectators and when horses bolt from the starting gate. Condolences to his family and his extended family at @ChurchillDowns.”, Greg Fischer, the mayor of Louisville, also wrote a tribute on Twitter, saying, “So heartbroken. Read more: Louisville wants to honor Asher by renaming a road near Churchill Downs. “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,” Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs, said in a statement. Those moments are when you can look at each other and know you can appreciate what the day’s about. Asher worked as a radio journalist and a publicist before starting at Churchill Downs in 1997. "At the end of the day we always give each other a hug. ", "We’re holding him to it," Rogers said. John Asher, the vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs Racetrack — the site of the annual Kentucky Derby in Louisville — died at age 62 on Monday after suffering an apparent heart attack. John Asher, the vice president for racing communications at Churchill Downs, answers all the questions about the Kentucky Derby and offers up his picks for this week's prep races. Just one year after American Pharoah finally ended a drought of 37 years by winning the Kentucky Derby … Upon walking into the Churchill Downs communications office, Asher was usually the first person you'd see. Asher died on an apparent heart attack early this morning. August 27, 2018 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 … He was a great storyteller. Rogers smiled fondly and recounted how the phrase "John and Darren" became a noun around the track because of how often the two were together. ... Asher became synonymous with the Kentucky Derby. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife Dee, his daughters Heather, Erin and Emma and his grandsons, Cameron and Caden.”, Retired journalist Steve Haskin: “We not only lost John Asher, we lost a living, breathing part of the Kentucky Derby – its voice, its presence and its spirit. Churchill Downs' Kevin Flanery talks about passing of John Asher, Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery talks about the untimely passing of spokesman John Asher, Sam Upshaw Jr., Louisville Courier Journal, Louisville wants to honor Asher by renaming a road near Churchill Downs, He'll be the oldest Derby jockey. "He was never happier then when he was able to help somebody else.". But 'being old doesn't apply' to Jon Court, Around midnight, hours after the winning horse crossed the finish line and as crews collected trash from the ground, Rogers and Asher typically left together, another Kentucky Derby in the books for the "partners in crime. “He really defined that position, and as communications changed over the years it became something very important. Asher was well-known for his work on WHAS Radio, but for … Whether he knew it or not, John Asher was woven into the fabric of countless Kentucky Derby rituals. "People will often ask, 'What are you guys doing to replace John?' It does not matter where we go. Check out: Get to know the 20 horses in the field for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. The trainers: Bob Baffert says he 'could easily have won eight' Kentucky Derbys. Rest in peace, brother.”. Apr 9, 2010. The sport needs more people like John, not less. So he will still be the first person you see, the ever-smiling face to welcome you to the racetrack he always praised as "75 degrees and sunny. After he returned from his morning rounds on the backside, Asher would meet Flanery at their offices to get ready for the long day ahead. Countless tributes have been made for John, but one in particular will honor his legacy for decades to come. Timeless: He'll be the oldest Derby jockey. He made everybody comfortable and could engage with everyone.". "He would give everything he had," said Dee Asher, John's wife of 32 years. "I worked here for 12 years and any problem I had, I … John is walking alone on the Churchill Downs backside. At Derby time, I don’t think he ever turned down an opportunity to speak.”. John Asher. KENTUCKY / RAMSEY’S PLEASANT PRINCE FAVORED OVER EIGHT RIVALS IN TOYOTA BLUE GRASS – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince, narrowly beaten by Ice Box in the Florida Derby (Grade I), and Padua Stables’ Odysseus, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), will attempt… The body of Churchill Downs' John Asher was carried in a hearse around the Churchill Downs track as 'My Old Kentucky Home' was played. RELATED: Justify Wins the 144th Kentucky Derby in the Event’s Wettest Race Ever, “When he went to Churchill Downs, I’m not sure they even knew what his position would be,” his brother Tim Asher told the Louisville Courier Journal. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. It seems only fitting that Asher, who in his long career as a journalist and broadcaster mastered the art of storytelling, left the community with endless stories to tell. "He’s got a direct pipeline this year.". This is really sad news for our sport as John Asher was the most visible face of the Kentucky Derby and a real credit to the sport. Flanery cherished the handshakes and hugs that bookended each day, and said people who call Churchill Downs to buy tickets often end up wanting to talk about John. Trainer Norm Casse: “John Asher was the only person I knew that loved Louisville, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby more than me. "But that was John's Derby Day, and he was in his element.". John Asher, the vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs Racetrack — the site of the annual Kentucky Derby in Louisville — died at … Our hearts and prayers are with his wife Dee, his daughters Heather, Erin and Emma and his grandsons, Cameron and Caden.”. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. He was Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby … The beloved John Asher who passed away from a heart attack in August at age 62. At the No. Racing has lost an icon.”, Continued Flanery, “I, and many others, have lost a kind and generous friend. That's what John gave to us.". Senior Director of Betting Information Jim Mulvihill will take over the press conference duties, and multiple staffers will take part in a team effort to fill the many other roles Asher willingly took on himself. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Asher was vacationing with his family in Florida at the time, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Monday. And anybody that you ask, 'Hey, we want you to be the new John Asher,' that would be unfair to anybody. “His passion for the Kentucky Derby, horse racing, his WKU Hilltoppers, great music, and above all else his loving family was genuine and infectious. I also know him as a strong community leader fighting for those who have little.”, He continued, “I will so miss his presence at @ChurchillDowns and the streets and boardrooms of Louisville where his total humanity shone like a brilliant first Saturday in May. It could have been to the grocery store, at the Los Angeles airport — he always ran into people that he knew.". But 'being old doesn't apply' to Jon Court, For jockeys Irad and Jose Ortiz, the Kentucky Derby is a family affair, Bob Baffert says he 'could easily have won eight' Kentucky Derbys, Get to know the 20 horses in the field for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. This year, the day will unfold much the same way, but in the shadow of three icons: the Twin Spires and John Asher. "That hearty laugh, the passion. Here's what people are saying, Churchill Downs honors John Asher with lap around track. He was Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby and they will never be the same. "It wasn't just at the racetrack, it was everywhere. We will miss John’s laugh, his unmistakable voice, and his unique storytelling. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The late John Asher, the longtime face and voice of the Kentucky Derby, will be among three inductees of the Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype. I was always happy to see him. Strangers or longtime friends, it didn't matter. At post time, Asher took up his viewing spot in the everyday winners' circle just beneath the Twin Spires. As Churchill Downs' longtime vice president of communications, Asher's death in August was felt deeply in every corner of the community. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Whenever anyone in horse racing died, and there was a story to be done, my first phone call was to John Asher at Churchill Downs. "John is irreplaceable," Rogers said. John Asher, who became the face of Churchill Downs in his role as vice president of racing communications, died the morning of Aug. 27, 2018, … Dee Asher recalled leaving her seat to meet John in his office for short 10-minute breaks whenever he could escape the hustle and bustle. John believes the '71 WKU Hilltoppers should have been NCAA champs; the Breeders' Cup ain't the Derby; daughters Erin, Emma and Heather have outrun their pedigrees; there's a marathon in me somewhere; Rock and Roll is redemptive & my greatest regret in life that I yet to learn to play the guitar. — The Kentucky Derby Museum has dedicated the History of Churchill Downs exhibit to the late John Asher. Whether he knew it or not, John Asher was woven into the fabric of countless Kentucky Derby rituals. His absence is all the more pronounced with the approaching 145th Run for the Roses, which will be the first Kentucky Derby without Asher in more than 20 years. John Asher was the Kentucky Derby’s beaming ambassador. On the first Saturday of May, Asher was everywhere. His face is lit up in recognition, his trademark smile frozen in the moment before proffering a cheerful greeting. Darren Rogers, Churchill Downs’ senior director of communications and media services, said that Asher never stopped moving, always committed to his role as an ambassador for Churchill Downs and the Derby. From some of the world's wealthiest people to $2 bettors to stable hands, at every point along the spectrum, deep in conversation, you could find John Asher — a man whose love for the racetrack was perhaps eclipsed only by its love for him. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Longtime Churchill Downs Spokesman, 62, Dies After Suffering Heart Attack on Florida Vacation. In August at age 62: Where is the Cast Now exclusive photos and videos, royal news features. 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