Churchill Downs confirms Ben Murr as President of TwinSpires and Online Gaming division

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Friday it has officially named Ben Murr as President of its TwinSpires and online gaming business segments, turning its interim appointment into permanent, to oversee the overall strategy and operations of these two business areas. 

During his 14 years with Churchill Downs, Murr has served in multiple leadership roles, including President of United Tote, Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and, before his official appointment, interim President of TwinSpires and online gaming. Murr’s promotion is effective immediately, and Churchill Downs said it will “move quickly” to fill the Senior VP and CTO roles. In the meantime, Murr will remain a Senior Vice President of CDI.

Murr took over as interim President when TwinSpires’ former head, Ian Williams, left to join Wynn Interactive in October 2021. 

In an official press release, Murr spoke about his latest appointment and said: “I’ve been heavily involved with TwinSpires and our online gaming operations throughout my tenure at CDI. I am passionate about these businesses and believe strongly in their future growth potential and strategic importance for CDI”. 

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen also commented: “During his tenure with CDI, Ben has been an important leader in the growth across our operations. He has been a key player throughout the extensive changes in our company over the last 14 years and will continue to move our TwinSpires and online businesses forward.”

Prior to joining Churchill Downs, Murr worked in information technology roles at American multinational General Electric, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Louisville’s Bellarmine University.