Lehr Named KY Downs Track Superintendent

Raymond “Butch” Lehr is Kentucky Downs' new track superintendent following the retirement of Ron Moore. He spent 30 years in that role at Churchill Downs, retiring in 2012.

Lehr joined Churchill Downs backside maintenance crew out of high school in 1967. He was promoted to assistant track superintendent in 1976 under revered veteran Thurman Pangburn and became track superintendent six years later.

“I miss it to a certain extent,” Lehr said. “I wanted to get involved a little bit. This is an opportunity to be around people I used to work with, without doing it seven days a week for much of the year. I also see it as a little bit of a challenge, to see if I can make a difference.”