Churchill Downs Incorporated announced that Mike Ziegler has been named to its new post of Executive Director of Racing. Ziegler will assume his position on Jan. 26, 2015, and will report directly to Bill Mudd, CDI's President and Chief Financial Officer.

As CDI's Executive Director of Racing, Ziegler will focus on and support the company's commitment to the U.S. Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. Ziegler will be responsible for championing CDI initiatives to enhance the racing and breeding industry and will serve as a representative and the liaison between CDI and the industry. Ziegler comes to CDI with nearly 20 years of industry experience.

He has served since 2009 as the Executive Director - Safety & Integrity Alliance for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) where he has overseen self-regulatory efforts to enact substantive improvements in safety and integrity in the racing industry. He was also the Executive Director for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance from 2012-13.