Kristin Warfield Named Churchill Downs' Vice President, Partnerships

Feb 10, 2012 John Asher

Churchill Downs Racetrack has appointed Kristin Warfield to the new post of Vice President, Partnerships at the famed home of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.

Warfield will oversee the growing partnership program at the historic track that since 1875 has been the home of the Kentucky Derby, America’s greatest race and an a spectacular annual celebration of fashion, food and fun.  The Kentucky Derby attracted a record attendance of 164,858 in 2011 and sits atop a schedule of special events at the track that also includes the Kentucky Oaks, a great race and celebration held on the eve of the Derby that has attracted crowds in excess of 100,000 in 12 of the last 13 years; popular “Downs After Dark” night racing and entertainment programs conducted under the track’s hi-tech lighting system; 60 days of live Thoroughbred racing during the track’s 2012 Spring and Fall meets; and other on-site entertainment events throughout the year.

Warfield assumes her new duties as Vice President, Partnerships as she enters her fourth year at Churchill Downs, where she has served as senior director, Partnership Development & Activation since 2009.  In that role Warfield has guided significant growth in the track’s Partnership Development & Activation efforts that includes new relationships with Longines®, the Official Timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby, and RAM®, the Official Truck of the Kentucky Derby; sustained and deepened relationships with the track’s existing partners; and the development of new partnerships, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Our Partnership Development & Activation program has made significant progress under Kristin’s leadership, and her appointment to this new post at Churchill Downs provides a wonderful opportunity to build on that success,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “The Partnership program is an important part of our efforts to grow our Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs brands and attract new partners and audiences for Derby, Kentucky Oaks and other major racing and entertainment events held at our track throughout the year.”

Before Warfield joined Churchill Downs, the New York native held posts with ASA Entertainment, where she served as vice president, Partnerships; the American Automobile Association, where she was director of Motorsports; and International Speedway Corporation, where she worked as senior director of Marketing Partnerships.