Aidan Butler
1/ST Racing COO Aidan Butler joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss Gulfstream's new Tapeta track and the recent Clenbuterol crackdown, plus track safety at Santa Anita.
As a result of standard out-of-competition testing, Gulfstream Park has taken immediate action to suspend five trainers that have been found to be in violation of the racetrack's clenbuterol restrictions. The five suspended trainers are Georgina Baxter, Gilberto Zerpa, Peter Walder, Rohan Crichton and Daniel Pita, according to published reports. Gulfstream Park enacted the restriction on clenbuterol as a house rule at the beginning of the 2019/2020 Championship Meet to further address and implement improved safety, transparency and accountability standards. A total of 10 barns at Gulfstream Park were randomly...
According to a report Friday in the Daily Racing Form, the opening of the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream is on hold. The surface was expected to be put into use Sept. 23. However, according to DRF, there will be a delay of about one week before the Tapeta track will be unveiled for races in the afternoons. The problem has arisen because the rail for the new course has not yet arrived from the U.K. and has been stuck in customs. "We have a temporary rail we can take...
Gregg Colvin has been appointed chief executive officer of 1/ST Content, the operating group of 1/ST's media and content companies. Colvin will work with chief operating officer Jason Wilson to further develop 1/ST CONTENT brands to attract and retain a new group of consumers. He will also coordinate with Craig Fravel, Aidan Butler and the 1/ST RACING team along with Paul Williams and the 1/ST TECHNOLOGY team to produce and deliver new content offerings, enhanced quality of production and new simulcast distribution platforms for the company's Thoroughbred horse racing and...
Aidan Butler, COO of 1/ST RACING, released a public letter to owners, trainers, and any other connections who use any 1/ST facilities, including Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, warning of a zero-tolerance policy regarding shipping horses via cargo ships. Anyone who is associated with shipping a horse in this manner will not be welcome at any 1/ST racing or training locations, with an immediate removal of all of that person's horses from 1/ST venues. "In consultation with our Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Dionne Benson," wrote Butler, "we have determined that...
Difficulties with the dirt track base repair and cushion resurfacing project at Laurel Park continue to mount, with the loose-ended timetable for the work now expected to extend at least until the start of July. Executives with The Stronach Group (TSG), which owns both Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, said during a Friday tele-meeting that they now need to pause work on the problematic and expensive project at Laurel until management can relocate of all horses stabled at Laurel to other facilities in Maryland. This news was delivered two weeks...
Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING and President, 1/ST CONTENT, has been selected by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) as recipient of the 2020 Ed Friendly Industry Service Award. The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding contributions and service in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Originally known as the TOC Chairman's Award, it was renamed for the legendary television producer, Thoroughbred owner and TOC founding member following his death in 2007. Former recipients include Mace Siegel, John Harris, Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jerry and Ann Moss, and Clement...
There was a rare and welcome sight Saturday at Santa Anita when the field of five scampered across the down-the-hill turf course to begin the 1 1/2-mile GIII San Luis Rey S. There were no incidents in a perfectly clean race where no one was hurt. So why can't the course also be used for what were iconic 6 1/2-furlong downhill grass races? They haven't carded a turf sprint on that course since a horse named Arms Runner (Overdriven) broke down and had to be euthanized in the running of...
1/ST CONTENT, the operating group for all of 1/ST's media and content companies, announced the appointment of Jason Wilson as Chief Operating Officer. Wilson will work directly with Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST CONTENT, to further develop and align the company's North American and international content businesses. He will focus on innovating Thoroughbred racing content programs and building competitive customer platforms. "I am thrilled to have Jason, a well-known and knowledgeable industry executive who shares our vision for the future of our sport, as part of the 1/ST team," said Butler....
Retired jockey Aaron Gryder has been appointed to the position of Vice President, Industry Relations for 1/ST RACING. Gryder will serve as a liaison between 1/ST RACING and industry stakeholders to help advance health, safety and rider reforms with a focus on jockey outreach. He will act as an ambassador for 1/ST RACING in California, Florida and Maryland. Gryder, who will be based in Florida and, reports directly to Aidan Butler, 1/ST's chief operating officer. He will be a media spokesperson for the company and also a primary point of...
While 2020 has been a year of hardships for everyone in our industry, many people have said the sport has come together in ways it never has before. As we enter into the holiday season, we spoke with several people who helped make this year a little better. We asked them to reflect on the things that have been particularly difficult to deal with this year; what they have learned because of these struggles and what they hope our industry will take away from this year as we look to...
The Stronach Group's Aidan Butler discusses possible changes at Gulfstream Park in this week's TDN Writers' Room.