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Santa Anita Wraps Autumn Meet With Zero Racing Or Training Fatalities

Santa Anita Park concluded the Autumn meet as the safest racetrack in the nation, without a single racing or training fatality since the horses returned from Del Mar on Sept. 5. During that time period, which includes the 16-day Autumn racing meet which was delayed because of the Bobcat Fire in the neighboring San Gabriel Mountains, 1,106 horses raced over the dirt track and turf course. Additionally, horses recorded over 51,200 training sessions, including 3,771 timed workouts over the main track and 487 over the training track.

The main dirt track has not had a racing fatality in 2020, including the 2019-20 Winter/Spring meet which began in December.

In 2020 there have been five racing fatalities from 5,069 starts, or 0.98 fatalities per 1,000 starters, well below the national average.

In addition to hosting some of the most prestigious races in the nation, Santa Anita is home to the largest training facilities in the country, operating nearly year-round with over 400,000 annual training sessions.

“These results are the efforts of the racing community to put the safety of the horse first at every turn, including additional veterinary regulations and observations, training approvals and analysis of entries,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing. “Last year, we set a course to reform the sport of horse racing for the next generation. This year, we are seeing the results of the hard work everyone has put into this effort.

“We especially appreciate the dedication of the owners, trainers, veterinarians and hardworking men and women who care for the horses, of the jockeys who have adapted their riding styles, the California Horse Racing Board which regulates the sport, and veteran trackman Dennis Moore and the entire Santa Anita track crew, who tirelessly work the surface day and night with safety top of mind.

We acknowledged last year that this modernization would likely lead to a short-term impact on Santa Anita's field size, but as these reforms become the national standards, California is ahead of the implementation curve which strengthens the sport in our state. We sincerely thank the bettors who have continued to support our racing product during this transition.

“On behalf of everyone at Santa Anita, we'd also like to let our fans know how much we've missed their passionate voices cheering these horses at The Great Race Place and we look forward to welcoming everyone back just as soon as we are able to do so.”

Live racing will return to the Arcadia oval at Santa Anita Park as tradition dictates on Dec. 26.

The post Santa Anita Wraps Autumn Meet With Zero Racing Or Training Fatalities appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Butler Appointed To New Positions At 1/ST Racing, 1/ST Content; Will Relocate To Florida From California

1/ST announced on Thursday the appointment of Aidan Butler to Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST Racing and to President, 1/ST Content. Butler joined The Stronach Group in 2018 and has been front and center in California leading the racing operations teams at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as the Acting Executive Director of California Racing Operations. In addition, he also served as Chief Strategy Officer for The Stronach Group.

Butler will work directly with Craig Fravel, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Racing, to further develop the company's world-class racing programs and national content offerings. While continuing to oversee racing operations nationally, Fravel will focus on West Coast operations while Butler will relocate to Florida to oversee the racing operations at the company's owned tracks and training centers on the East Coast including Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows in Florida and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

Butler will also take on responsibilities to further develop and align the company's North American and international content businesses including, Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV as President of the newly formed 1/ST Content division.

“Aidan and I have been working side-by-side over the last year and have developed a strong and constructive working relationship,” said Fravel. “The appointment of Aidan to Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST Racing and President, 1/ST Content, is a critical step as we continue to build our company's forward-thinking and innovative racing and content programs. I have no doubt that his passion and knowledge for our sport will position our national and East Coast operations for growth.”

“I look forward to working with Craig and the 1/ST Racing teams in Florida and Maryland to synchronize our racing programs and to establishing the 1/ST Content division as the future of content platforms for our sport,” said Butler. “While I focus on the East Coast racing operations, I will continue to assist with matters in California and to work closely with horsemen in the state.”

During a transformative time in horse racing, Butler was responsible for the implementation of industry-leading health and safety protocols for horses and riders at Santa Anita Park while overseeing track management and operations at the company's West Coast venues. In addition, Butler was responsible for the development of key stakeholder and strategic relationships and most recently for leading Santa Anita Park successfully through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under his leadership, within days of the original coronavirus lockdown, Butler brought the horse racing community at Santa Anita Park together to form North America's first sports bubble. This self-contained ecosystem allowed hundreds of backstretch workers, jockeys and essential racing personnel to keep the horses safe and active while protecting themselves, their livelihoods and the community. This ecosystem has since been replicated by many other professional sports leagues including the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). “Riders Up” the documentary that showcases how Butler and the team at Santa Anita Park made this happen premiered on NBCSN in the leadup to Preakness 145 and is currently viewable at www.santaanita.com.

For more information on 1/ST please visit www.1st.com or @1ST_Racing.

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Aidan Butler Appointed to COO, 1/ST Racing and President, 1/ST Content

The Stronach Group’s Aidan Butler has been appointed to Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING and to President, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST announced Thursday. Butler joined The Stronach Group in 2018 and has been front and center in California leading the racing operations teams at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as the Acting Executive Director of California Racing Operations. In addition, he also served as Chief Strategy Officer for The Stronach Group.

Butler will work directly with Craig Fravel, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING, to further develop the company’s racing programs and national content offerings. While continuing to oversee racing operations nationally, Fravel will focus on West Coast operations while Butler will relocate to Florida to oversee the racing operations at the company’s owned tracks and training centers on the East Coast including Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows in Florida and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.

“Aidan and I have been working side-by-side over the last year and have developed a strong and constructive working relationship”, said Fravel. “The appointment of Aidan to Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING and President, 1/ST CONTENT, is a critical step as we continue to build our company’s forward-thinking and innovative racing and content programs. I have no doubt that his passion and knowledge for our sport will position our national and East Coast operations for growth.”

“I look forward to working with Craig and the 1/ST RACING teams in Florida and Maryland to synchronize our racing programs and to establishing the 1/ST CONTENT division as the future of content platforms for our sport”, said Butler. “While I focus on the East Coast racing operations, I will continue to assist with matters in California and to work closely with horsemen in the state.”

For more information on 1/ST, visit www.1st.com.

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$100K Trainer Bonus Returns for Preakness Weekend

For the fourth consecutive year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering the $100,000 Sentient Jet Trainer Bonus to horsemen that accumulate the most points during stakes races over GI Preakness S. weekend, Oct. 1-3 at Pimlico Race Course.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen captured the $50,000 prize in both 2017 and 2018 but finished second to Brad Cox in 2019.

Led by the 145th running of the Preakness, presented this year as the final jewel in a refashioned Triple Crown and a “Win and You”re In” qualifier for the Nov. 7 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, a total of 15 Thoroughbred stakes, nine graded, worth $3.35 million will be contested over three days.

Trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 stakes races during Preakness weekend will be eligible for bonus money, with $50,000 going to the trainer with the most points, $25,000 for second, $12,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth, $4,000 for fifth and $2,000 for sixth.

Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five) and fourth (three) and by having a starter (one) in each of Pimlico’s Thoroughbred stakes.

Included among the participating races: the GIII Chick Lang S. (Oct. 1); GIII Pimlico Special (Oct. 2); and in addition to the Preankess Oct. 3, races will included the GII Dinner Party S., Black-Eyed Susan S., GIII Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, GIII Miss Preakness and GIII Gallorette S.

Nominations for all 15 Thoroughbred stakes close Thursday, Sept. 17. For the complete rundown of races, visit www.laurelpark.com

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