TIM RITVO TO DEPART THE STRONACH GROUP
By Tiffani Steer —-
TIM RITVO TO DEPART THE STRONACH GROUP
The Stronach Group Announces Management Update
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (March 2, 2020) – The Stronach Group announced today that Tim Ritvo, Chief Operating Officer, will step away from the company effective March 2, 2020 to pursue new opportunities. Ritvo has held several roles in his tenure with the company moving from General Manager of Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida to become the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
“I want to thank Tim for his 24/7, day-in and day-out commitment to our company and our sport and for the invaluable contributions he has made to the repositioning and profitability of our business. I wish Tim success and we look forward to continuing our positive and productive relationship together,” said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, The Stronach Group. “I have tremendous confidence in our 1/ST Racing Team, led by Craig Fravel, and their ongoing commitment to evolving our racing platform with the highest level of integrity and forward-thinking that will drive our company’s growth for the future.”
“Over the past decade, Tim has applied his life-long passion and knowledge for the sport to our company’s core racing operations functions and has positioned 1/ST Racing for continued growth,” said Craig Fravel, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Racing. “Tim’s contributions will be leveraged by 1/ST Racing as we continue to set a new competitive standard in Thoroughbred racing that puts horse and rider safety at the forefront.”
“I am honored to have been part of The Stronach Group and am proud of the accomplishments that we have made for the industry across our racing and training programs,” said Tim Ritvo. “As a former jockey, passionate fan and lifelong horseman, I am grateful to have been a part of the team. I have learned so much and want to thank everyone that I have worked with over the years for their support. I look forward to the next chapter in my professional career.”
Ritvo played an important role across the core racing operations functions of the company, most notably he turned around the operations at Gulfstream Park and positioned it for profitability and future growth. In addition to his contributions at Gulfstream Park, Ritvo has led operations at Santa Anita Park and the Maryland Jockey Club and has helped to build the profile and success of the company’s premier events, including the Preakness and the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series.
The Stronach Group has no immediate plans to fill the position.
ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.
About 1/ST
1/ST (pronounced “First”) is the engine that powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking consumer and customer facing brands, 1/ST Racing, 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Live and 1/ST Properties businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST Horse Care mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core and is the most dominant player in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry in the United States, with business relations around the globe. For more on 1/ST please visit www.1st.com.