Churchill fires 22 workers

Churchill Downs Inc. announced Friday that it had fired 22 full-time employees at its headquarters in Louisville, Ky., as part of a corporate restructuring.

The employees represented 30 percent of the full-time corporate staff and were from a variety of departments, according to a statement issued by Churchill. The employees have been offered severance packages and assistance in finding new jobs.

Churchill officials declined to identify any of the employees who were fired. But, according to two sources, Andrew Skehan, Churchill's chief operating officer, was among the employees to be dismissed. In addition, Karl Schmitt, senior vice president of special projects, confirmed on Friday that he was fired.

Skehan could not be reached on Friday.

"We need different organizational capabilities to grow our company and pursue the opportunities we see before us, and that is the reason for the changes we are making," Robert L. Evans, Churchill's chief executive officer, said in the statement.

Evans was brought to Churchill earlier this year, replacing Tom Meeker, who had held the job of chief executive for 22 years.