Former Churchill Downs Racetrack General Manager Danny Parkerson Dies

Mar 16, 2015 John Asher

Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 for former Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”) General Manager and Churchill Downs Incorporated Senior Vice President Danny Parkerson.

A member of the team at the home of the Kentucky Derby for more than 40 years, Parkerson launched his career with Churchill Downs as a member of the greenhouse crew before ascending though the administrative ranks to eventually serve in the final decade of his career as general manager, senior vice president and as vice president of the Churchill Downs Management Company, a former subsidiary of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Parkerson, 72, died Friday at Louisville’s Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital following an illness. Funeral services are scheduled for noon (all times Eastern) on Tuesday, March 17 at Ratterman & Son Funeral Home, 7336 Southside Drive. Visitation is underway this afternoon and will continue through 8 p.m.

Parkerson participated in important Churchill Downs projects during his four decades with the company. He was named director of Operations in 1985, and played a key role in a five-year, $25 million renovation of the track during that time. He was named senior vice president in February 1991, and assumed the duties of general manager – a post once held by Churchill Downs legend Col. Matt Winn – in June of that year. During his years in that post Parkerson oversaw day-to-day operations of the track and supervision of its staff. He also headed a renovation of Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum, an off-track wagering facility and Thoroughbred training facility later known as Trackside.

His decades of service at Churchill Downs concluded with Parkerson’s retirement on Dec. 31, 2000.