Billy Badgett

David Duggan, the former Chief Operating Officer of Golden Gate Fields, has been appointed Executive Vice President, 1/ST RACING, according to 1/ST. Duggan has assumed day-to-day responsibility for the leadership of Gulfstream Park's racing operations and management. According to the company, Billy Badgett has shifted his focus away from day-to-day operations and management toward shaping the strategic future of Florida racing as Executive Director of Florida Operations for 1/ST. "I'm very excited and very thankful to Aidan Butler and the company for giving me this opportunity," said Duggan. "It's a...

Returning to New York from a winter working in Louisiana, the first since his emigration, Ignacio Correas appeared literally a shadow of his former self. His former vet came from the old country and found that Correas, this blueblood of the Argentinian Turf, had lost around 30 lbs. "What are you doing here?" his visitor asked. "Why don't you go back? I mean, look at you." "Don't worry," Correas replied. "I'm going to be okay." Now, 23 years later, he sits outside the Keeneland barn that houses the leading turf...

After 20 inches of rain fell in Hallandale Beach, Florida Wednesday, Gulfstream Park officials have had to move around 300 horses from the lower barns, barns 1-11, as horses were standing in more than foot-deep water in their stalls. The horses are being moved to higher barns at Gulfstream and to the Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center, located north of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach, Florida. 1/ST Racing via a press release on Thursday said their Friday program would be cancelled. "We are in the process of moving the lower barn...

Looking for ways to avoid overusing the turf course at Gulfstream Park, The Stronach Group may install a synthetic Tapeta surface at the South Florida track. The news was revealed by Stronach Group COO Aidan Butler during his appearance on this week's TDN Writers' Room, presented by Keeneland. Butler said that The Stronach Group is looking into the possibility of having three tracks at Gulfstream, dirt, turf and synthetic. The grass course at Gulfstream is under heavy use throughout the year, but it had been getting a two-month break while...

   The Florida HBPA has named Kevin Scheen its new Executive Director, replacing Billy Badgett, who in March became Executive Director, Florida Racing Operations, for The Stronach Group. A native of Louisville, KY, Scheen has been the Florida State Steward at Gulfstream Park and Calder/Gulfstream Park West for the past 15 years. He will begin his new role on June 12.    "I would like to thank President Stephen Screnci, the search committee and the Board for providing me this opportunity," said Scheen. "I have been working with horsemen on...