A native of Topeka, Kansas, Steve Sexton graduated from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif., with majors in economics and psychology. He started his career in the racing industry in 1983 as a sales promotion manager at Santa Anita racetrack in California. Sexton moved around to various tracks during his career rounding out his management skills and industry knowledge. After serving at Canterbury Downs, Golden Gate Fields, Thistledown, Lone Star Park, and Arlington Park, Sexton settled in at Churchill Downs where he served as president from 2002 to 2009. Back in 1991 David Vance (as President of DeBartolo Racing) put Sexton in charge of Thistledown in Ohio. Vance said Steve Sexton was always very conscious of customer service, whether it was to the horsemen or the patron and had a reputation for working hard.
In Texas, Sexton made a big impact. In 1994, he was named assistant general manager at Lone Star Park. He loved horse racing and people and was a customer oriented manager who helped Corey Johnsen prepare for Lone Star’s grand opening in 1997.
When Lone Star opened in 1997 Sexton was named executive vice president and later promoted to general manager of the track in 2000. As Lone Star’s vice president and general manager, Sexton was instrumental in one of the most successful track launches in the modern era. Sexton was praised highly by his friends and coworkers. Corey Johnsen who worked with him at Lone Star Park and Churchill Downs was quoted as saying “Steve Sexton will be considered one of the greatest horse-racing executives in modern history”.
He joined Churchill Downs Incorporated as the president of Arlington Park in 2001 and guided the track during its preparations for the 2002 Breeders’ Cup and moved to Louisville soon after. At the Churchill Downs facility, Sexton was at the head of a significant grandstand and clubhouse renovation, as well as the 2006 Breeders’ Cup. Sexton improved the track facility and the profitability of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) week, which set attendance and wagering records under his watch. Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen said Sexton also did a lot of small things behind the scenes to improve the sport.
In 2005, when the Jockeys' Guild was in disarray, failed to use racetrack contributions to buy catastrophic insurance for its members and depleted its fund to support disabled riders, Sexton got personally involved. Churchill Downs obtained $1-million in catastrophic coverage for jockeys and Sexton pushed NTRA Charities to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund that provided care to more than 50 former riders who had suffered severe injuries. He testified before Congress on the matter in November 2005.
Sexton resigned from Churchill Downs in 2009 and surfaced in Austin, Texas, where he was named president of Formula One United States, a grand prix auto track and entertainment center funded by Tavo Hellmund and Red McCombs.
In 2017, Lone Star Park announced that the Grade 3 Texas Mile Stakes race would be renamed in honor of Steve Sexton and he would also be inducted into the Lone Star Park Hall of Fame. “Anyone who knew or worked with Steve Sexton knows he was one of the most versatile, talented and dedicated racing executives of his time,” said Scott Wells, Lone Star Park’s president and general manager. “Horses and the people who work with them are the backbone of this sport; and throughout his career, Steve demonstrated a passion for both which was unsurpassed. We are proud that the Steve Sexton Mile will live on at Lone Star Park as a tribute to him and to his spirit of achievement and excellence.
The horse racing industry lost a good man and a great management professional when Steve Sexton passed away December 12th, 2016
In Texas, Sexton made a big impact. In 1994, he was named assistant general manager at Lone Star Park. He loved horse racing and people and was a customer oriented manager who helped Corey Johnsen prepare for Lone Star’s grand opening in 1997.
When Lone Star opened in 1997 Sexton was named executive vice president and later promoted to general manager of the track in 2000. As Lone Star’s vice president and general manager, Sexton was instrumental in one of the most successful track launches in the modern era. Sexton was praised highly by his friends and coworkers. Corey Johnsen who worked with him at Lone Star Park and Churchill Downs was quoted as saying “Steve Sexton will be considered one of the greatest horse-racing executives in modern history”.
He joined Churchill Downs Incorporated as the president of Arlington Park in 2001 and guided the track during its preparations for the 2002 Breeders’ Cup and moved to Louisville soon after. At the Churchill Downs facility, Sexton was at the head of a significant grandstand and clubhouse renovation, as well as the 2006 Breeders’ Cup. Sexton improved the track facility and the profitability of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) week, which set attendance and wagering records under his watch. Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen said Sexton also did a lot of small things behind the scenes to improve the sport.
In 2005, when the Jockeys' Guild was in disarray, failed to use racetrack contributions to buy catastrophic insurance for its members and depleted its fund to support disabled riders, Sexton got personally involved. Churchill Downs obtained $1-million in catastrophic coverage for jockeys and Sexton pushed NTRA Charities to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund that provided care to more than 50 former riders who had suffered severe injuries. He testified before Congress on the matter in November 2005.
Sexton resigned from Churchill Downs in 2009 and surfaced in Austin, Texas, where he was named president of Formula One United States, a grand prix auto track and entertainment center funded by Tavo Hellmund and Red McCombs.
In 2017, Lone Star Park announced that the Grade 3 Texas Mile Stakes race would be renamed in honor of Steve Sexton and he would also be inducted into the Lone Star Park Hall of Fame. “Anyone who knew or worked with Steve Sexton knows he was one of the most versatile, talented and dedicated racing executives of his time,” said Scott Wells, Lone Star Park’s president and general manager. “Horses and the people who work with them are the backbone of this sport; and throughout his career, Steve demonstrated a passion for both which was unsurpassed. We are proud that the Steve Sexton Mile will live on at Lone Star Park as a tribute to him and to his spirit of achievement and excellence.
The horse racing industry lost a good man and a great management professional when Steve Sexton passed away December 12th, 2016