Gagliano leaves Maryland post

Jim Gagliano, the vice president of racing operations for the Maryland Jockey Club, resigned on Wednesday, four days after the running of the Preakness Stakes at the company's Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

In a statement released by the MJC, Gagliano, 39, cited personal reasons for his resignation. Gagliano came to the MJC in July last year from its parent company, Magna Entertainment.

Before that Gagliano was Magna's president of offtrack betting operations and based in New Jersey, where he continued to maintain a residence with his family while working in Maryland.

"It was becoming increasingly difficult for me to maintain a high level of work performance while still residing in New Jersey," Gagliano said in the statement.

Magna said in a statement that Gagliano's duties will be taken over by current staff at the Maryland Jockey Club.