Aidan Butler promoted to president of 1/ST

Aidan Butler, the chief executive of a division of 1/ST, the racing company, has been promoted to president of the company, 1/ST announced on Wednesday.

Butler had previously led the 1/ST Racing and Gaming Division. Belinda Stronach, who took over the racing assets of 1/ST from her father, Frank, in 2018, had previously served as president, chief executive officer, and chairman of 1/ST, but she will cede the president title to Butler, the company said in a release.

In the release, 1/ST said that Butler will focus on “innovation and diversification of the company’s industry-leading wagering and gaming assets.” He will oversee the chief executive officers of four divisions of the company: 1/ST Racing and Gaming, 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Content, and 1/ST Experience, the company said in the release.

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Butler joined 1/ST in 2018 as the company’s acting executive director of California racing. He was promoted two years later to chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing and to the position of president of 1/ST Content.

Among racetracks, 1/ST owns Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Golden Gate Fields, Laurel Park, and Pimlico Race Course, as well as several training centers. The company has announced that it intends to close Golden Gate Fields after the track’s 2024 meet this summer, and it is in the process of negotiating an agreement with the state of Maryland that will deed Pimlico to the state and allow a non-profit company to take over operations of both Laurel and Pimlico.

1/ST also owns the bet-processing company AmTote, the account-wagering company XpressBet, and the simulcast marketing company Monarch, among other racing assets.

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