Jeffrey Smith will be leaving his position as General Manager of Racing for Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on April 30 due to a restructuring of his position
. He will continue in his position as Managing Director of Racing for Hoosier Park’s parent, Centaur LLC, for a limited period of time to assure a smooth transition as the organization continues its preparation to emerge from bankruptcy.
As part of its debt restructuring, Centaur has streamlined its operations by selling its Colorado property and auctioning the rights to develop its Pennsylvania project. As a result, the Centaur corporate office is being downsized to reflect a single property focus.
“I have enjoyed my tenure at Hoosier Park and consider myself especially fortunate to have been involved in the development of Hoosier Park from its construction in 1994 through its evolution today as a year-round entertainment destination,” said Smith.
Smith has a long and successful history with Hoosier Park and has played a key role in its development. Some highlights of his tenure include:
- Responsible for the development of Hoosier Park beginning in 1993 while serving as President of Churchill Downs Management Company
- Served as President of Hoosier Park from 1994 – 2001 while with Churchill Downs
- Joined Centaur in 2001, then a minority partner in Hoosier Park
- Oversaw the purchase of Hoosier Park from Churchill in 2007
- Joined Hoosier Park as General Manager of Racing in 2008
Prior to joining Centaur, Smith was with Churchill Downs for 18 years, serving in various leadership positions. He led the finance area as its Secretary/Treasurer, and served as President of Churchill Downs Management Company, which developed and operated properties in several states. Smith also served as Chairman of the Harness Tracks of America, representing 45 racetracks in North America.
“My fellow team members at Hoosier Park are simply the best in the business. It has been a real pleasure to work alongside them. I will miss them and the excitement of Hoosier Park,” continued Smith.
Centaur Chairman and CEO Rod Ratcliff stated, “Jeff Smith has made valuable contributions to Centaur, Hoosier Park and the racing industry during his time with our company. We thank Jeff and wish him the very best in his future career endeavours.”
(Hoosier Park)