Chill’s Carstanjen: Some 2014 Complaints/Criticisms ‘Hurt"
Apr 27, 2015 13:18:19 GMT -5
Post by cait on Apr 27, 2015 13:18:19 GMT -5
boo hoo! what a crock!
Churchill’s Carstanjen: Some 2014 Complaints/Criticisms ‘Hurt’
Paulick
Throughout Derby week of 2014, a few of the stories that drew major attention in the media were not those regarding any of the Kentucky Derby contenders, but rather some publicity “snafus” involving Churchill Downs.
One involved Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who reported having difficulty with Churchill Downs’ management regarding handicapped parking and access to the racetrack. Another instance involved one of California Chrome’s co-owners, Perry Martin, who complained that his wheelchair-bound mother had trouble even seeing the race.
In a recent interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal, Churchill CEO Bill Carstajen admitted that some of the criticisms “hurt”, and that the racetrack is “doing more this year that is not purely profit driven.”
“The feedback we got was sometimes candid,” Carstanjen told the Courier-Journal‘s Greg Hall. “It sometimes really hurt, but we needed to hear it. We listened to it. We made a lot of changes based on it, and I think people who own horses that are in the Oaks and own horses that are in the Derby, I think they’re going to have a much better experience this year. That’s our goal.”
The track has made several changes/improvements, not just geared for owners of Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses, but also some that will benefit the sport itself. Churchill has recently agreed to match owners’ per-start contributions toward care of retired thoroughbreds, and has signed a three-year deal to support The Jockeys’ Guild.
In the way of improving the Derby and Oaks experience for owners, the racetrack has built a new seating area that provides a better view and more free seats for the connections of the horses. They are also providing drivers for Derby week, to help owners navigate Louisville.
While Carstanjen is “cautiously optimistic” about how owners will feel after this year’s race, he knows that there will be room for more changes for 2016.
“We won’t be done with this Derby, he said. “There’ll be more things next year that we can improve on as we tweak and test this year.”
Churchill’s Carstanjen: Some 2014 Complaints/Criticisms ‘Hurt’
Paulick
Throughout Derby week of 2014, a few of the stories that drew major attention in the media were not those regarding any of the Kentucky Derby contenders, but rather some publicity “snafus” involving Churchill Downs.
One involved Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who reported having difficulty with Churchill Downs’ management regarding handicapped parking and access to the racetrack. Another instance involved one of California Chrome’s co-owners, Perry Martin, who complained that his wheelchair-bound mother had trouble even seeing the race.
In a recent interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal, Churchill CEO Bill Carstajen admitted that some of the criticisms “hurt”, and that the racetrack is “doing more this year that is not purely profit driven.”
“The feedback we got was sometimes candid,” Carstanjen told the Courier-Journal‘s Greg Hall. “It sometimes really hurt, but we needed to hear it. We listened to it. We made a lot of changes based on it, and I think people who own horses that are in the Oaks and own horses that are in the Derby, I think they’re going to have a much better experience this year. That’s our goal.”
The track has made several changes/improvements, not just geared for owners of Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses, but also some that will benefit the sport itself. Churchill has recently agreed to match owners’ per-start contributions toward care of retired thoroughbreds, and has signed a three-year deal to support The Jockeys’ Guild.
In the way of improving the Derby and Oaks experience for owners, the racetrack has built a new seating area that provides a better view and more free seats for the connections of the horses. They are also providing drivers for Derby week, to help owners navigate Louisville.
While Carstanjen is “cautiously optimistic” about how owners will feel after this year’s race, he knows that there will be room for more changes for 2016.
“We won’t be done with this Derby, he said. “There’ll be more things next year that we can improve on as we tweak and test this year.”
