Aidan Butler

Whenever a day at the races can be turned into an "event," the fans and the bettors turn out in droves, and there's no better example of that than the Pegasus World Cup Day card at Gulfstream. Highlighted by the GI Pegasus World Cup, the day has become among the most important on the calendar for 1/ST Racing, which owns Gulfstream, and this year's handle could once again top the $40 million mark. 1/ST Racing CEO of Racing Aidan Butler will be among those responsible for putting on a good...

The Pegasus World Cup has entered into a partnership with Qatar Racing, the global racing and bloodstock operation founded and chaired by Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al Thani. The $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf presented by Qatar Racing will be broadcast live on NBC between 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 28 from Gulfstream Park. "We are proud to welcome Qatar Racing as the presenting sponsor for the 2023 Pegasus World Cup Turf," said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING. "Qatar Racing is a significant supporter...

It's been some four years since Santa Anita suffered through some of the worst times in its long and otherwise glorious history, a prolonged period where horses were breaking down and dying at an alarming rate. Aidan Butler, the chief executive officer at The Stronach Group 1/ST Racing and Gaming, the corporation that owns Santa Anita, is still haunted by that period, so much so that he says he has nightmares about horses breaking down. "It was horrific," Butler said. "Can you imagine having bloody helicopters from the news stations...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

Though he said NYRA is willing to be part of a dialogue involving changing the dates of the Triple Crown races, a hot topic since GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) opted out of the GI Preakness S., NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke has made it clear that the racing organization has no immediate plans to sign off on proposals that would alter the status quo. "We are touching on tradition here," O'Rourke told the TDN Wednesday. "We are touching on the one thing that is sacrosanct...

Trainer Richard Baltas is currently restricted from entering horses nor are his horses permitted to engage in timed works at Santa Anita Park, according to the Paulick Report. "We are conducting an investigation into matters concerning trainer Richard Baltas," Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST, which runs Santa Anita, told the Paulick Report via text message. "Pending completion of that investigation and any final decision based on the results, horses trained by Mr. Baltas are not permitted to enter races at 1/ST Racing venues nor engage in timed works."...

Mychel Sanchez's 60-day suspension for betting against himself is about to end, but that doesn't mean the jockey will be back in action any time soon. After being suspended for 60 days by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, Sanchez is eligible to ride Tuesday, but Parx management did not allow trainers to name him on horses on Wednesday when entries were taken for next Tuesday's card. "We tried to name him on horses for Tuesday after his suspension ends and they would not accept anyone naming him on a horse," said...

The new date for the resumption of racing at Laurel Park has now been pegged as Thursday, Dec. 16, with timed workouts expected to resume Friday, Dec. 10. Both targets are pending a satisfactory safety review of the extensive base and cushion work now being done on the troubled main dirt surface at Maryland's most heavily used Thoroughbred venue. With the exception of light training that continues to take place around cordoned-off areas of the dug-up oval, Laurel has been closed for racing and timed works since Nov. 28. Seven...

In the news plenty recently for cracking down on clenbuterol violations with out-of-competition testing, suspending a jockey over a suspected betting coup and overseeing the successful installation of a third, synthetic surface at Gulfsteam Park, 1/ST Racing's Chief Operations Officer Aidan Butler is making a name for himself in the industry as a proactive, no-nonsense executive. Wednesday, he joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss all of those recent stories, the improved safety record at Santa Anita, long-term plans...