By Ray Paulick
Those who think all the “suits” in racing’s ivory towers know nothing about the people who put on the show at racetracks across the country should talk with Churchill Downs Inc.’s chief operating officer Bill Carstanjen. He had a crash course for 10 days last September working incognito alongside employees on the front and backside of Churchill Downs, Arlington Park and Calder, and the experience was enlightening if not life-changing.

Carstanjen played the starring role in the new CBS television series “Undercover Boss,” which puts executives at major companies alongside front-line workers.

“Each week a different executive will leave the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their company,” the reality show’s website explains. “While working alongside their employees, they will see the effects their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organization and get an up-close look at both the good and the bad while discovering the unsung heroes who make their company run.”

Other companies profiled so far include Waste Management, 7-Eleven, White Castle, and Hooters.

The episode featuring Carstanjen and Churchill Downs Inc. employees is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. (eastern) March 14. Click here to see a preview.

Originally, CBS tried to get CDI’s chief executive officer Bob Evans to go undercover, but he was convinced too many employees would recognize him and his cover would be blown. Too bad: the Paulick Report has learned Evans has plenty of experience toiling in the trenches, reportedly helping pay his way through college by working as a janitor for the local school district.

Carstanjen disguised his look, replacing glasses with contact lenses and growing a scruffy beard on his jaw. Cameras followed him around through various jobs—as part of the clean-up crew on the front side, mucking stalls in the stable area, shadowing the track’s outrider, working with a jockey valet, and even the bugler for the call to the post.

Employees were told someone hoping to land an entry-level position was being documented by a film crew. “They thought he was an unemployed schmo trying out some entry-level jobs,” said Julie Koenig-Loignon, CDI’s vice president of brand development and marketing. “They were giving him a trial run as much as anything.”

Carstanjen didn’t just pose for the cameras. He was put to work alongside CDI employees.

“There are some very high pressure jobs in horse racing where you’ve got to keep up,” Koenig-Loignon said. “Bill definitely got put to the stress test. There was also some down time spent with employees. In some cases, he got to understand more about their families, along with personal and professional challenges.”

Carstanjen learned a lot more than how to much out a stall or clean a urinal.

“The best part of the 10-day voyage into the workings of the company was seeing and feeling the passion and dedication of the employees,” Carstanjen said. “Being undercover meant the people I was working side by side with, could speak frankly about their work.  They could freely speak about their personal sacrifice, health issues and time management, all while showing up every day for work with the same attitudes so many of us feel for this business—the passion, dedication and drive to get more fans to love the sport as much as we do. 

“For me, it was a lifetime experience.  There was a lot of enjoyment in experiencing the fun and passion without the corner office pressure, which focuses on the problems.”

Did he learn any lessons about how corporations like Churchill Downs can better connect with their employees?

“I could see all the things we’re doing right and all that we’re doing wrong and one takeaway and initiative will be to have a ‘Walk a mile in the other people’s shoes day’ at Churchill Downs Incorporated properties.  Not forgetting about safety or security, we plan to have people switch roles to really appreciate and teach everyone from the front side to the backside, what it takes to run a racetrack operation.”

The show’s preview indicates there are some emotional moments between Carstanjen and those he worked alongside.

“There are so many moments we worked and lived through,” he said. “I performed many different jobs and I don’t know what is in the final film; that is part of the arrangement with CBS.  I can tell you there are moments of joy, pride, and a whole lot of humble moments.  I truly did very few of the jobs very well.

“Probably the most raw, emotional moment was when we revealed who I was.  I really can’t say anymore, other than to tune in with us on March 14.”

Carstanjen plans to be with some of his family and Churchill Downs team members at the track on the night of March 14 “so we can all watch for the first time together and have a good laugh at my expense.”

Copyright © 2010, The Paulick Report

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Tags: 7-Eleven, Arlington Park, Bill Carstanjen, calder, CBS, churchill downs, Churchill Downs Inc., Good News Friday, Hooters, liberation farm, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, Undercover Boss, Waste Management, White Castle

This entry was posted on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 7:08 am and is filed under Churchill Downs Inc., Good News Friday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.