Jill Byrne joins Breeders' Cup Ltd.

Jill Byrne, the director of broadcast and programming at Churchill Downs for the past nine years, has been hired by Breeders’ Cup Ltd. to be the organization’s senior director of industry relations, Breeders’ Cup announced on Thursday.

Byrne, who will be based at Breeders’ Cup’s Lexington, Ky., office, will focus on relations between Breeders’ Cup and nominators, owners, trainers, and sales companies, the organization said. She will also assist in recruitment efforts for U.S. and Canadian horses.

Byrne is familiar to racing fans because of her role as the televised racing analyst for live race cards at Churchill Downs. Breeders’ Cup said she will begin at the organization on May 15, eight days after Churchill hosts this year’s Kentucky Derby.