Campo trades Gulfstream GM post for wider responsibilities

P.J. Campo will be replaced as general manager of Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., so that he can focus more on the racing programs at all of the tracks owned by The Stronach Group, Gulfstream announced on Thursday.

In addition to general manager, Campo holds the title of vice president of racing for The Stronach Group, the private racing company controlled by owner-breeder Frank Stronach. By removing Campo from his role as general manager of Gulfstream, the release said, he “will spend additional time working with The Stronach Group’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Ritvo on ways to coordinate the racing schedules and race meets at all Stronach Group tracks while studying the feasibility of shared services and a centralized racing office."

Bill Badgett, a former trainer who has been a consultant for The Stronach Group for three years, will be moved into the general manager spot, the release said.

“P.J. has enjoyed great success at Gulfstream improving the racing product and revitalizing summer racing in Florida,” Ritvo said in the release. “We’re looking at P.J. to now work more closely at all our tracks as we look to better coordinate and restructure our race meets and services. We have no doubt Bill will do a great job succeeding P.J. as General Manager at Gulfstream.”

The Stronach Group also owns Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields in California, Laurel Park and Pimlico in Maryland, and Portland Meadows in Oregon. The company also runs a meet at Calder Race Course in Miami under a lease with the track’s owner, Churchill Downs Inc.

Also at Gulfstream, Chris Camac has been named racing secretary. Camac has been assistant racing secretary for the last three years at Gulfstream, and he has worked under Campo for 10 years, going back to Campo’s tenure as racing secretary at the New York Racing Association.