Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced March 23 that Craig R. Fravel has been promoted to president and general manager. Fravel, 53, has been executive vice president since joining DMTC in 1990.
Fravel will continue to report to Joe Harper, DMTC’s chief executive officer, president, and general manager, who will continue to serve as CEO.
"This is a well-deserved promotion for Craig," Harper said in a statement from DMTC. "In the past few years especially he has taken on many of the nitty-gritty assignments that come with running a place like Del Mar and he’s done exceptional work for us. He’s proven to be invaluable to our business here, as well as a sought-after leader in the industry throughout the country."
DMTC also announced that Michael R. Ernst has been elevated to executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer, and Thomas S. Robbins is now Del Mar’s executive vice president, racing and industry relations/racing secretary.
Fravel is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s school of law and practiced in Washington, D.C., and San Diego before joining Del Mar. He is president of the Dolly Green Research Foundation; chairman of Southern California Off-Track Wagering; chairman of the statewide California Marketing Committee; and chairman of CHRIMS. He is also on the boards of Equibase, the national Racing and Medication Testing Consortium, and the Southern California Equine Foundation.
Previously, he served as both a member and chairman of the board of the national Thoroughbred Racing Association, as well as president of the Federation of California Racing Associations.
Ernst, 55, joined DMTC as its chief financial officer in 1991 and previously had worked as a CPA and banking executive in Southern California.
Robbins, 56, a member of the family that has been involved in California racing for decades, will be serving his 30th season as Del Mar’s racing secretary this summer.
