Caton Bredar has been named executive producer of the new media development department at Gulfstream Park, track officials announced Dec. 16.
Several individuals, including publicity director Mike Mullaney and on-air handicappers Rowland Hoyt and Ron Nicoletti, recently were let go by Gulfstream, though the moves weren’t publicly acknowledged by the track.
All three worked under president and general manager Bill Murphy, who resigned a few months ago. Ken Dunn, a former Calder Casino & Race Course executive, took Murphy’s place at Gulfstream.
Magna Entertainment Corp.-owned Gulfstream in 2009 had one of its more successful recent meets with a 6.7% gain in on-track handle and a 3.7% increase in all-sources handle.
The hiring of Bredar was announced by Mike Cronin, recently hired by Dunn as assistant to the president for marketing. The two worked together at Calder.
A Chicago-area native, Bredar, 44, first served as simulcast and television host at Gulfstream in the 1990s. From there, the former exercise rider and trainer moved to Los Angeles to be part of the launch of TVG.
Bredar later moved to Kentucky, where she has worked regularly as horse racing contributor, news reporter, and anchor for the NBC affiliate WAVE-3 News. Over the past decade, she has reported for HRTV, FOX, CBS, and ABC, among others, and is regularly seen reporting from horseback for ESPN’s coverage of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
At Gulfstream, Bredar will oversee a newly assembled team responsible for all broadcast operations, with the goal of expanding and enhancing coverage on all platforms including print, simulcast, Internet, radio, and television. The media development department will specifically focus on broadening Gulfstream’s presence on HRTV and HRTV.com.
A release made no mention of other members of the team. Gulfstream begins its 2010 meet Jan. 3.
