‘Undercover Boss’ Analysis of Episode 5: COO Bill Carstanjen of Churchill Downs
Name: Billy Carstanjen
Title: Owner of White Castle
Headquarters: Louisville, KY
Product or Service: Owns and operates a number of horse racing tracks
Brief Overview:
In this week’s episode of “Undercover Boss”, Bill Carstanjen, COO of Churchill Downs, tries a variety of front line positions at a couple of racetracks owned by his company.
Analysis
Yes, you're reading that right. "Holding the Check" is the horse that Gilian was depending on.
Yes, you're reading that right. "Holding the Check" is the horse that Gilian was depending on.
Position 1: Horse Trainer Assistant
Overview: “Billy” assists Gilian in feeding and caring for several horses.
Result: Gilian alerts Bill to the fact that a large portion of her income depends on her horse winning a race. The horse then proceeds to lose.
How he made amends: Bill offers her an additional 4 horse stalls, and a full time position at the track.
What he should have done: Bill should have considered the entire squad of trainers, as opposed to just Gilian, as the gift to her may create jealousy among her peers. Instead of 4 new stalls, he should have told Gilian to shrug off her loss and get back in the saddle (pun intended). The new job was an added bonus.
"I don't mean to toot my own horn, but TOOT TOOT."
Position 2: Park Bugler
Overview: Jean teaches “Billy” how to play the Call to the Post.
Result: Even after practicing the Call to the Post for what must have been at least 15 minutes on the kazoo, Bill ends up blowing it, and I don’t mean the horn.
How he made amends: Bill promises never to try to play the horn again. Just kidding. He does nothing.
What he should have done: He should have promised to never play the horn again. Not kidding.
"We have to clean toilets? This is horse sh!t. No wait, that was my first job."
"We have to clean toilets? This is horse sh!t. No wait, that was my first job."
Position 3: Custodial Engineer
Overview: “Billy” works under manager Denise’s orders, wiping down surfaces, throwing out trash, vacuuming, and complaining.
Result: Bill learns that Denise drives 90 minutes each way to work. She’s also scared of walking to her car late at night after her shift.
How he made amends: Bill issues a new policy mandating better lighting an security for the night shift workers, and offers Denise a job at a location closer to her home.
What he should have done: In this instance, the corporate policy amendment was the right play…the right play in a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. This issue was essentially a freebie.
I couldn't focus on what Roxanne was saying. I was too focused on how much her all-purple outfit resembled Grimace.
I couldn't focus on what Roxanne was saying. I was too focused on how much her all-purple outfit resembled Grimace.
Position 4: Backstretch Work
Overview: “Billy” is paired with Roxanne, and tries he luck at washing a horse.
Result: Bill learns that Roxanne dreams of becoming upper management at Churchill Downs, but is not sure what it takes to get there. Bill isn’t sure either.
How he made amends: Bill offers Roxanne a new job in marketing.
What he should have done: Bill really doesn’t use much creativity in addressing the issues presented to him. Job doesn’t pay enough? Here’s a new one. Job to far from home? Here’s a new one. Job not ambitious enough? Here’s a new one.
Bill needs to show a bit more creativity as COO. Or perhaps Churchill Downs needs a new one.
Bill discovers a job perk that Kenny forgot to mention.
Bill discovers a job perk that Kenny forgot to mention.
Position 5: Jockey Valet
Overview: “Billy” works as a valet under Kenny’s supervision.
Result: Bill learns that the picture on the clipboard he had been using all day was of Kenny’s daughter. Kenny recently lost his daughter to a heart defect.
How he made amends: Bill offers to name a race after Kenny’s daughter.
What he should have done: Kenny’s story was a heart breaker. Naming a race is a good start, but Bill really could have ponied up (no pun intended) a bit more.
Grade:
If Bill was a horse, I'd consider putting him down.
Bill only made one corporate policy change: mandatory lighting and security for the late shift. The rest of the time he was just handing out new jobs to the individuals lucky enough to be selected to work with him.
Bill, that’s some horse sh!t and you know it.
Don’t like our grade? Drop us a rebuttal, and leave a comment below.
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