Lou Raffetto Leaving MD J.C.
 

MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF LOU RAFFETTO

BALTIMORE, 11-28-07---The Maryland Jockey Club ("MJC") announced today that Lou Raffetto, President and Chief Operating Officer of MJC, will be leaving MJC effective immediately to pursue other opportunities. Chris Dragone, a former Senior Vice-President and General Manager at MJC, has been appointed as President and General Manager. MJC is the trade name under which Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park operate.

Frank Stronach, Chairman of MJC, stated, “Lou worked very hard during his tenure with MJC to manage the day-to-day operations and improve the future of thoroughbred racing in the state of Maryland. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Raffetto stated, “I wish my colleagues at MJC well going forward and hope that the company will be successful in implementing its long-term plans.”

Dragone joined Magna Entertainment Corp. (“MEC”) in 2002 and served as General Manager of Great Lakes Downs and Portland Meadows prior to his appointment with MJC in February 2006. Dragone left MJC after eight months for personal and family reasons and since that time has acted as executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Inc. The son of former New York Racing Association Chairman Allan Dragone, Chris Dragone has held numerous management jobs at race tracks across the country. The Dragone family owns December Hill Farm in New Jersey.

Stronach stated, “MEC remains strongly committed to the future success of thoroughbred racing in Maryland. To this end we will put the full support of MEC behind Chris and the MJC management team.”

Dragone added, “I look forward to working towards improving the racing and entertainment experience for Maryland horsemen and our customers. Working with the other key stakeholders I hope to build upon the platform established by Lou Raffetto and the De Francis family.”

Huge loss for Maryland. Best of luck to Lou...

Who fires people on a Wednesday afternoon?

Frank, who can stop him? He probably had one of his energy drinks prior to the mass firings

Hate to see anyone lose their job but I never cared for Raffetto's "Suffolk South" transformation of the MD condition book. I also never cared for the way he snuggled up to Robert Cole whenever he got a chance.

I thought MJC was fairly happy with Raffetto's performance considering what he now has to work with. Then again, maybe that on-air interview with Steve a few weeks ago did him in.... :)

I know quite a few horseman had less than nice things to say about Rafetto and his policies/treatment of them. That was enough for me to not like him. Without the horseman there is no show.

I know quite a few horseplayers had great things to say about Rafetto and his policies/treatment of them. That was enough for me to like him. Without the horseplayers there is no show.

Not to me.

You find me a horseman that believes he's more important than the players and I'll show you a horseman that doesn't get it. And I'll also find you at least one Hall of Fame trainer that will absolutely agree with me.

Well, while I know phystech is involved in racing in MD and TBfan may be, it's hard to argue with John Franzone (Chairman, MD Racing Commission), Richard Hoffberger (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President) and Alan Foreman (Councel to the MTHA) and their view.



Andy Beyer weighed in this morning as well in the Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112902073.html

And if you didn't hear Matt Hegarty of DRF on 'ATR' last night, I'd invite a listen. He explains, as Beyer does, that Magna stupidly interprets Raffetto as a Joe DeFrancis holdover.

http://www.thoroughbredracingradione...,29/Itemid,35/

In fact, as DeFrancis himself said Wednesday, bringing in Raffetto may have been the best thing he had ever done in his tenure at the head of Maryland racing. Stronach, in his bumbling, hapless way, defended the move yesterday explaining he wasn't happy with the financial progress of Pimlico and Laurel. But as Raffetto points out, the reality is that the MJC was doing better than anticipated by MEC.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...nach-says.aspx

If you were 'unhappy' with how Lou Raffetto treated horsemen, a somewhat indefensible position to start with in my opinion, just wait... At least he knew where the backstretch was. It is at least appropriate that a company that operates in its' own Fantasyland tabbed Chris Dragone as Raffetto's replacement... When he worked at Monmouth years ago, his widely used nickname was 'Dumbo'.

A guy with this kind of reputation won't be out of work long.

I have no doubt that Dragone has been brought in to be nothing more than a hatchet-man. I have no doubt that Pimlico will be closed soon as a training track. I have no doubt that Bowie Training Center will be sold as soon as Magna can get it done. It's purely a guess but I think Magna might feel it will be easier to force all of this down the throats of MD horsemen without Raffetto in the driver's seat.

As in every business, some of Raffetto's decisions had negative impacts on my racing businesses, and I didn't like some of the things I had to deal with as an owner. But he was/is a decent guy and I had the pleasure of speaking to him a few times about general things. Kind of nice to be sitting at Tycoon's bar in the clubhouse after winning a race and have him come in and buy a round for us. Not a lot of track pres would do that for a way, way, little fish like me.....

just saw this at bloodhorse

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42272

I'm sure Lou would be welcome back at Suffolk in some capacity as they attempt their umpteenth resurrection. He was at the helm during their most recent run of success in the mid and late 90's. Any word on his plans, Steve?

No.. But I know that he really didn't want to leave Maryland. Suggestion was made by an in-the-know individual however that agrees with your suggestion above. Especially given the new-found investment influx in Southie.

Since he's seen both sides of the issues here in MD, I wouldn't mind seeing Lou become the Executive Sec of the MD Horseman's Association. Current office holder, Wayne Wright, does a poor job in my opinion. Come to think of it, I'm not a big fan of Richard Hoffberger, President of MD Horseman's Association, either. I don't think any of these guys have done a decent enough job in representing the horsemen. Lots of money making ideas that they never seem to pursue. They only have one focus - slots.

Tom you hate everybody!

You picked up on that, eh?? :)

It's frustrating to see some of the things that go on here in MD when you know that with a little more insight and effort, it could be somewhat different. Lots of blown smoke up the old backside by too many racing officials here for way too many years.

I'm sure it's the same way everywhere.......