A section of Hwy 259 north will soon be named for a Leitchfield native who became one of horse racing’s greatest ambassadors.
John Asher, who passed away at the age of 62 on August 27, 2018, will have a stretch of Hwy 259 north from the William Thomason Byway, extending to the Breckinridge County line, named in his honor.
The Highway Unveiling ceremony dedicating the roadway to Asher’s memory will be held at K105, located at 2160 Brandenburg Road, on Tuesday morning, June 4 at 10:00.
Parking will be available at Leitchfield Memory Gardens and the parking lot at Grayson County Food Alliance; both are directly across the road from K105.
Asher, who joined Churchill Downs in 1997, became the face of the legendary race track in his role as vice president of racing communications in 1999. Prior to that, he won five Eclipse Awards while providing horse racing coverage for radio stations in Louisville. He was also awarded the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year award in 2006, and was bestowed the Charles W. Engelhard Award for excellence in media coverage from Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.
A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Asher’s family has created a scholarship fund (along with WKU) to help students pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Before attending WKU, Asher graduated from Clarkson High School, and his first job in radio was at WKHG-WMTL.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
