New Role for CDI’s Evans

Robert L. Evans will retire as Executive Chairman of Churchill Downs Incorporated and as a member of management effective Sept. 30, 2015. Evans will continue as the non-executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. These changes complete the senior executive leadership transition begun in August 2014 when William C. Carstanjen was named the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a position Evans had held since joining the company in August 2006.

Evans was responsible for numerous new events during his tenure, such as Taste of the Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks Pink Out and Survivors Parade. He also oversaw the construction of The Mansion, the Big Board and the lights which made night racing possible.

AmericaTAB and Bloodstock Research Information Services were acquired under Evans’s leadership and were key developments in CDI’s entry into the Advance Deposit Wagering business. He also oversaw agreements with eight regional casinos and was responsible for the acquisition of Big Fish Games, one of the largest producers and distributors of mobile and online casual games.
During Evans’s tenure, CDI’s net revenues nearly tripled and profits grew over 400%.

Evans commented, “While I am extremely proud of what the CDI teams at all of our locations have accomplished, I’m even more excited about what they can achieve in the future. CDI is today a far more diversified company with much greater organic growth potential, with strong free cash flow and a conservative amount of debt. Most importantly, the CDI organization is stronger, with much broader and deeper capabilities, notably in the use of technology. These are the key ingredients for future success and I trust CDI’s best years will be the years ahead.”