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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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Due To Testing Delays, Maryland To Implement Expedited Purse Release Program On Nov. 1

Several years ago the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, in cooperation with the Maryland Jockey Club, instituted an Expedited Purse Release Program to allow for our owners to get purses earned on an expedited basis and before drug test results had been returned to the Maryland Racing Commission by the commission's testing laboratory.

The program required that interested owners sign an agreement that obligated the owner to repay and affected purse money paid that became the subject of a positive drug test.

In light of significant test result delays that are being caused by COVID-19 and other factors beyond the control of the MRC, the MTHA and MJC have determined to implement the program automatically Nov. 1 as to all overnight races, unless an owner determines to opt out of the program. Purse money will be released 72 hours after a race, pursuant to MRC regulations.

If an owner has received purse money earned before the test results are received and a positive test is reported, the owner will be required to return such purse money to the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account. Failure to do so can result in suspension of the owner's license until the funds are repaid.

Owners can opt out of the program and await payment of a purse earned once the test results are received. To opt out, an owner must notify the MTHA or MJC in writing.

The MTHA hopes that this change will benefit our racing community and not subject our owners to unnecessary delays in getting their purse earnings.

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Delaware Park Shows Increases In Average Handle, Starters During 2020 Meet

Despite a reduction in live race dates and significant safety protocols for live on-track patrons, horsemen and employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 live race meet at Delaware Park concluded on positive notes on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The 83rd season of live racing was originally scheduled to have 85-days beginning on May 27 and ending on Oct. 31, but because of the pandemic the meet was reduced by 20-days with opening day on June 17.

The 65-day season had increases in average handle per race and average starters per race. In 2020, the average handle per race was $167,192 with average starters per race of 7.52 and in 2019, the average handle per race was $157,640 with average starters per race of 6.56. There were 556 races compared to 661 in 2019. Total handle was $92,958,696 compared to the $104,200,290 from last year's 81-day meet.

“Without a doubt, this was one of the most challenging meets I can remember, but in many ways, it was also one of the most rewarding,” said Kevin DeLucia, Senior Vice President of Racing/Finance, who has been at Delaware Park for 24 years. “We were one of the first tracks and sporting venues to allow fans and we did so from the beginning of the meet until the end without incident. While we successfully negotiated all of the safety protocols and restrictions, we experienced increases in average handle and starters per race. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the cooperation and support of the fans, employees, Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen Association and the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.”

For the sixth time in seven years, Carol Cedeno was the leading jockey with 84 victories. The native of Puerto Rico, who lives in Delaware, has been the leading rider at Delaware Park every year since 2014, with the exception of 2017. She equaled the record for most titles by a jockey set by Michael McCarthy, who won six from 1996 through 2000 and 2002. Cedeno, concluded the meet 11 wins away from her 1,000th career victory (through October 21). Nearly 500 of those wins have been at Delaware Park.

“It really is overwhelming,” said jockey Carol Cedeno, who set the record for most wins in a day at Delaware Park in 2018 when she rode seven on a single card. “I am honored to be included in the group of the all-time great jockeys in Delaware Park history. There are some big names on that list and for my name to be among them at my hometown track is very humbling. We all work very hard at what we do and I am lucky that my hard work and sacrifices have resulted in these achievements.”

Jamie Ness recorded his sixth consecutive leading trainer championship by saddling 52 winners. The native of Heron, South Dakota, is one title shy of equaling the record for most consecutive trainer titles set by Delaware Park legends Grover 'Buddy' Delp from 1963 through 1969 and Scott Lake from 2002 through 2008. This is the eighth overall title for Ness. He has also been leading trainer in 2012 and 2013 and from 2015 through 2019. The record for most titles by a trainer is eleven also set by Grover “Buddy” Delp.

Jagger Inc. won the leading owner title by recording 25 wins.

The brilliant filly Dunbar Road won the Delaware Handicap with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard on July 11th. Owned by Peter M. Brant, the daughter of Quality Road posted a 3-length victory in the filly and mare summer classic. The Kentucky-bred is conditioned by Chad Brown. Otter Bend Stables' Gufo won the Kent Stakes with Trevor McCarthy aboard on July 4. The son of Declaration of War trained by Christophe Clement notched a half-length win and followed with a second in the Saratoga Derby on Aug. 15 and a victory in the Belmont Derby on Oct. 3.

“The racing at the meet was exciting and competitive from the beginning to the end,” said John Mooney, the Executive Director of Racing. “I could not be happier. Between our big race days and the race for leading jockey, trainer and owner, every live race day had something special. We are very much looking forward to seeing how horses like Dunbar Road and Gufo do in the race for national divisional championships. We could not be happier for Carol Cedeno and Jamie Ness as they are continuing the rich tradition of top and first class jockeys and trainers at Delaware Park.”

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Dubai World Cup Carnival Program Announced For 2021; Applications Close Nov. 23

Dubai Racing Club has announced the program for the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival, as racing returns to the iconic Meydan Racecourse. While the Carnival opens in January, the first race meeting of the 2020-21 racing season is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2020. Racing will be conducted under guidelines from the UAE government; further details will follow closer to the date.

Slated to run over six consecutive Thursdays from Jan. 21 to Feb. 25, 2021, the Dubai World Cup Carnival program will culminate on March the 6 with the Super Saturday race meeting. Better known as a dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup race meet, racing on Super Saturday alone is worth $1.7 million.

Total purses are slightly reduced from the previous year, but given the challenging events over the past few months on account of Covid-19, Dubai Racing Club has made every effort to ensure the return of racing in safe and secure conditions.

The opening Carnival race meeting on Jan. 21 promises to be an action-packed evening with six out of seven races falling in the Group and Listed categories. Topping the racecard on the night is the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (G2), run over a mile, which serves as a prep, for both the Godolphin Mile (G2) and Dubai World Cup (G1). The remaining six nights of racing during the Dubai World Cup Carnival also offer similarly high quality races, sure to attract the finest international trainers, horses and jockeys.

Horses from Denmark, USA, Ireland, UK, Sweden and Norway as well as the UAE were represented at the 2020 running of Super Saturday. Among the impressive international winners on the night was USA's Doug O'Neill-trained Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint-winner Wildman Jack, exemplifying the top quality of runners on the night. Post-Meydan the 4-year-old went on to win the G3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita, while being placed in the Group 2 Eddie D Stakes, and is a strong contender in the prestigious 2020 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. A similar international participation is anticipated in 2021.

The Closing date for Horse Connections to file in their Dubai World Cup Carnival applications is Nov. 23, 2020.

All races will be contested and regulated in standard fashion and results will be recorded in an official capacity. In line with the UAE Government regulations, Dubai Racing Club will follow the strict health and safety measures, including comprehensive sanitation, thermal screening of attendees and social distancing.

Dubai Racing Club is also pleased to welcome back our sponsors, Emirates Airline, Longines, DP World, Gulf News, Emirates NBD, Azizi Developments, Al Tayer Motors, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One and Mubadala.

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