Executive Leadership

Tim Bryant
President, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Senior Vice President, Churchill Downs Incorporated

Tim Bryant was named president of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and senior vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated on April 20, 2010. He brought with him more than 15 years of experience in the gaming industry.

Prior to joining Fair Grounds he spent four years at Harrah’s New Orleans. As vice president of operations and finance (2008-2010), Bryant oversaw all aspects of the Finance, Hotel, Food & Beverage, Retail and Customer Service operations. As vice president of finance and administration (2006-2008), he supervised Finance, Information Technology, Risk Management, Compliance and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Compliance.

Bryant joined the gaming business in 1995 as senior internal auditor for Argosy Gaming Company, preparing and conducting audits in five jurisdictions around the Midwest and South, including Louisiana. He later was promoted to Internal Audit Supervisor.

Bryant spent six years, 1997-2003, with Park Place Entertainment and the company’s subsequent incarnation, Caesars Entertainment. As his role evolved through several promotions, Bryant’s title changed accordingly, from internal audit manager (Caesars Indiana) to operational accounting manager (Caesars Indiana) to director of cage and credit (Caesars Indiana) to controller (Grand Casino – Gulfport).

Bryant joined Harrah’s East Chicago in 2003 as director of casino finance and was shortly thereafter promoted to director of finance. In 2005, he moved to Harrah’s Joliet with a promotion to vice president of finance & administration and remained at that Illinois property until his transfer to New Orleans in 2006.

Bryant began his career as an internal auditor with Ferrellgas in Liberty, Mo. He is a 1992 graduate of the University of Central Missouri.

Eric Halstrom
Vice President and General Manager of Racing, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Halstrom came to Fair Grounds in 2008 with more than 15 years of experience in the racing business.

Prior to his arrival in New Orleans, Halstrom spent nine years with Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., where he most recently served as vice president of racing and simulcasting operations.

Halstrom's racing experience also includes positions with Hoosier Park OTB Network, Toledo Raceway Park and The Meadows.

Halstrom is a 1992 graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.