Breeders' Cup Seeing Heavy Interest In Filling Vacant CEO Role

Breeders' Cup BOD member TOM LUDT said that the organization has "received 'at least 40' inquiries to fill" its CEO position, "just days after the resignation" of former President & CEO GREG AVIOLI, according to Matt Hegarty of the DAILY RACING FORM. Ludt, whom the board appointed Monday to serve as Chair of a "five-member search committee," said that the "response to the open position has been overwhelming since Avioli informed the board Friday that he was resigning to take a position overseeing the racing assets of MI Developments." Ludt said that the BOD "plans to meet Wednesday or Thursday to determine whether the organization will hire a search firm to identify the best candidates." He added that the BOD "has not determined the criteria it will use to rank candidates for the position." Ludt: "We're not just going to look internally or inside the racing industry. We'll also be looking outside of the racing industry" (DRF.com, 3/8). Hegarty also noted the Breeders' Cup Monday appointed COO & CFO MATTHEW LUTZ and VP/Sales CARTER CARNEGIE as interim co-CEOs "while the organization searches for a replacement." The two will be responsible for "jointly overseeing the Breeders' Cup's operations." Joining Ludt on the search committee are BOD members HELEN ALEXANDER, ANTONY BECK, JERRY CRAWFORD and RICHARD SANTULLI (DRF.com, 3/8).