Breeders' Cup President and Chief Executive Officer Drew Fleming was yesterday named to Sports Business Journal's 2022 Forty Under 40 Class. The Forty Under 40 list is a prestigious annual recognition of the best young talent in sports business from across the United States. The award is considered among the highest honors in the sports industry, recognizing league commissioners and officers, team presidents and senior executives, top media executives, brand-side marketers, and the heads of the industry's top agencies who are making a significant impact on their organizations and the industry more broadly.
Sports Business Journal created their coveted Forty Under 40 Awards in 1999 to highlight the sports industry's most exciting and game-changing young leaders. Fleming's inclusion on this year's list marks the first time an executive working in the sport of horse racing has ever been named a Sports Business Journal Forty Under 40 honoree. The 2022 awardees will be honored Tuesday, Nov. 15, at a celebration in New York City.
“Drew's strong and steady leadership at the Breeders' Cup and his work across the racing industry over the last several years have been incredibly impactful and beneficial to our sport,” said Barbara Banke, Chairman of the Breeders' Cup Limited Board of Directors. “I'm so proud that he is being recognized and honored for his contributions not only to racing, but to the entire sports industry. Drew is a wonderful ambassador for our sport, and I look forward to the Breeders' Cup's bright future under his leadership.”
During his tenure as President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, Fleming has significantly increased international participation in the World Championships, and has expanded the global presence of the Breeders' Cup to additional broadcast outlets. He also led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and navigated the Breeders' Cup through regulatory changes that seek to ensure that the industry prioritizes safety and integrity as it continues to thrive and modernize.
“I am extremely grateful for this honor from Sports Business Journal and am so lucky to live my dream every day as the CEO of the Breeders' Cup,” said Fleming. “The racing industry has a bright future ahead of it, and I am proud to be among the many young leaders in this sport who are prioritizing safety and integrity, bringing in new generations of racing fans and bringing the unparalleled excitement of Thoroughbred racing to guests and viewers around the world.”
Fleming's leadership in the racing industry extends far beyond the Breeders' Cup. He serves on the Board and Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, on the Board of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and as Chair of its Governance Committee, and is a Member of The Jockey Club.
Fleming came to the Breeders' Cup nearly seven years ago, joining the organization first as Senior Vice President of Business and Development, and later serving as Chief Operating Officer. As the current Chief Executive Officer and President of Breeders' Cup, Fleming is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company, including host track relations, long-term planning and business growth, finance, sponsorships, marketing and legal.
Prior to joining the Breeders' Cup, Fleming practiced law at a national law firm focusing on corporate transactions. Fleming represented both domestic and foreign equine clients including horse farms, sales companies, racetracks, Thoroughbred owners, and trainers on a variety of legal issues such as the purchase, sale and syndication of Thoroughbreds, the acquisition of Thoroughbred farms, equine lending, and the corporate structuring of racing syndicates and private placements. Additionally, Fleming has represented domestic and foreign clients in mergers and acquisitions ranging in size from several million dollars to several billion dollars in a variety of industries including energy, manufacturing, sports marketing, and banking. He has also represented clients in both venture capital and private equity transactions.
Fleming holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Washington and Lee University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He resides in Lexington, Ky., with his wife and son.
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