Aidan Butler | Horse Racing Free Tips

Butler Pledges One-Day TAA Match Dec. 24

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Aidan Butler and his beloved off-track Thoroughbred Cannonstone have pledged to match all donations up to $2,500 made to the TAA Dec. 24. A member of TAA's Board of Directors and CEO of 1/ST RACING AND GAMING, Butler continues to be an advocate for the sport through safety, innovation, and aftercare initiatives.

“The TAA is vital to the success and longevity of our racing industry,” said Butler. “On a personal level, I wouldn't have my beloved horse Cannonstone without the TAA and their network of accredited groups (or the vet bills, but he's worth it). We are all in this together and if we continue to put the horse first, success will follow. Please join Stone and I to give back to the horses that truly give us everything.”

Butler adopted “Stone” from Secretariat Center in 2019, which is one of 81 accredited sites that is directly funded by TAA. He represents one out of approximately 15,000 retired racehorses that has successfully made the transition from the racetrack to a second career.

“We appreciate Aidan's commitment to the TAA and to the Thoroughbreds,” said TAA Operations Consultant, Stacie Clark. “Aidan's horse Cannonstone has been a wonderful mascot not only for aftercare but for all fans of Thoroughbreds and racing.”

TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign commenced Nov. 29 with one-day matches with the sport's biggest names and concludes New Year's Eve. Those wishing to support the TAA, its accredited organizations and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA's website or text DONATE to 56651.

Click here, to learn more about the TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign.

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Quinella Wagering at Gulfstream Dropped after Manipulation

1/ST Racing and Gaming has issued a statement regarding an irregularity in the Quinella betting pool for a maiden claiming race, won by Glass Star (Gormley), at Gulfstream Park Nov. 11. The Quinella wager is a marginal bet which generates smaller pools, making it easier to manipulate. Due to manipulation, the Quinella wager on the race in question returned a higher price than it traditionally would have paid. The $2 Quinella in the race paid $42.40, while the $1 Exacta paid $9.30.

Gulfstream Park has removed the Quinella from the betting menu effective immediately.

1/ST's statement reads as follows:

1/ST Racing and Gaming is aware of an irregularity of the betting pools for the Quinella on the first race on Nov. 11 at Gulfstream Park. The account from which this wager was played has been identified and that account has been closed. Our team is working with the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) and other agencies to investigate the full impact of the manipulation of the pools, which appear to involve offshore betting sites.

“Integrity and safety are the two cornerstones of 1/ST's foundation, and we are continuing to thoroughly review all actions associated with this incident,” said Aidan Butler, CEO of 1/ST Racing and Gaming. “Ensuring the protection of our stakeholders, including the important constituency who wager on our races, is of paramount importance.”

“TRPB's Wagering Integrity Unit is assisting the investigation into the betting,” said Curtis Linnell, Executive Vice President of the TRBP. “There is no indication at this time of malfeasance by any participants in the race itself.”

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1/ST Racing & Gaming Unveiled

The Stronach Group's Belinda Stronach introduced 1/ST RACING & GAMING, an enhanced division of the company designed to position the core Thoroughbred horse racing business to fully capitalize on the future of sports wagering and gaming. According to a Wednesday evening press release from the company, the 1/ST RACING & GAMING division will continue to oversee racing operations at 1/ST tracks and training centers while working to expand the company's gaming footprint in collaboration with 1/ST TECHNOLOGY led by the divisions' Chief Executive Officer, Paul Williams.

“The shifting landscape of sports wagering, digital platforms and interest in high-quality content presents an opportunity for 1/ST to innovate to meet the demands of our modern consumers,” said Stronach. “An enhanced 1/ST RACING & GAMING business unit will enable us to move faster and more efficiently to deliver our unique, industry-leading Thoroughbred horse racing, gaming and sports entertainment content to the next generation audience.”

Stronach has appointed Aidan Butler as Chief Executive Officer and Craig Fravel as Executive Vice-Chairman of the newly formed division.

Butler has appointed Rikki Tanenbaum as Chief Commercial Officer and President of Gaming, and Stephen Screnci as President of Racing and Business Development.

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Trainer Peter Miller Set to Return at Churchill Downs

Peter Miller, who has not started a horse since Nov. 28, will make his return Sunday at Churchill Downs when he sends out Respect the Code (Honor Code) in the eighth race.

Miller announced last fall that he was taking a break from training, explaining in a press release that he wanted to “spend more time with his family, focus on overall health and wellness, and pursue other interests.” At the time, the bulk of his stable was moved over to his former assistant Ruben Alvarado.

In a text message, Miller, 55, explained that he chose to launch his comeback with Respect the Code because he wanted his first horse back to be owned by Gary Barber. “He's been my biggest supporter for over 15 years,” Miller wrote.

Miller went on to explain that Respect the Code is his only horse he has in Kentucky and that the bulk of his stable will be in Southern California. He said he is gearing up for the meets at Los Alamitos and Del Mar. The Los Alamitos meet begins June 22 and the Del Mar season begins July 13.

When asked via text if the horses that had been turned over to Alvarado will return to his stable, Miller wrote, “I hope so.”

Miller's status at Santa Anita remains unclear. By deadline for this story, Aidan Butler, the chief operating officer for 1/st Racing, which owns, Santa Anita, had not responded to a text asking whether or not Miller's entries would be accepted at the Arcadia, California track.

Miller's announcement that he was stepping away from training came shortly after a horse under his care died at the San Luis Rey training center. In 2021, five horses in his care suffered catastrophic injuries, the highest number of any single trainer in California this year. Though 1/st Racing did not publicly take any action against Miller, there was speculation that he was forced out. When announcing his hiatus, Miller said the decision was strictly his own.

“I know that there may be some speculation related to this decision; however, I want to make it very clear that it is not a result of any regulatory action, secret agreement or hidden agenda of any kind,” he said in the press release. “This is strictly a personal decision.”

Miller, who has won nine training titles at Del Mar, has 1,338 career wins.

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