Former Churchill Downs President Steve Sexton Hired To Oversee U.S. F1 Race

Formula 1 United States has hired former Churchill Downs Entertainment President & CEO and Churchill Downs President STEVE SEXTON as President, effective Feb. 18 (F1 U.S.). In Austin, John Maher reports Sexton has worked in horse racing for "nearly three decades." RED MCCOMBS, who is a founding partner in the F1 Grand Prix event in Austin, said, "He's the right man for the job." Sexton noted a "number of similarities between high-profile events in the two sports, including large crowds, big TV ratings and A-list celebrities." While at Churchill Downs, Sexton "gave celebrities the red carpet treatment" during the Kentucky Derby, and he indicated that doing that "would be one of the goals for the F1 race." Maher notes Sexton oversaw a $121M "grandstand construction project that included 80 luxury suites" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 2/22).