Bill Murphy resigns as GM of Gulfstream Park

Bill Murphy has abruptly resigned as president and general manager of Gulfstream Park.

In a statement released Saturday afternoon, the race track and casino confirmed that Murphy's resignation was effective Oct. 30. Gulfstream Park opens its 2010 meeting Jan. 3 and Murphy will assist with the management transition as opening day approaches.

“I’d like to thank Magna Entertainment Corp. and Frank Stronach for the opportunity, and honor, of working with an incredible staff and with the greatest horsemen and jockeys in the world,” Mr. Murphy said. “I can’t say enough about the employees here. They successfully ran a business through the five years that this property was under constant construction. They put a great deal of pride into their work and I am very proud of my association with them.”

Murphy started at Gulfstream Park in June 2006 as a vice president in charge of racing and in January 2007 was made president and general manager.

Gulfstream's parent company, Magna Entertainment, is in the midst of a messy bankruptcy filing and has been forced to sell off land near Ocala and two other tracks -- Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Lone Star Park outside Dallas -- to reduce its debt. The sale of other properties -- possibly including Gulfstream -- could come in 2010. While Gulfstream has bucked the national trend of falling race track handle and grown its casino revenue, it also is embroiled in a dispute with state regulators over whether a lack of oversight led to illegal use of test cards that allowed users free plays on slot machines.

Greg Rayburn, Magna Entertainment Corp.’s chief executive officer stated “I would personally like to thank Bill for his contributions to Gulfstream Park and MEC over the years. He was instrumental in keeping Gulfstream Park the premier track for winter racing on the East Coast following our rebuild. We look forward to building on the solid foundation Bill helped establish as we look to the opening of the Village at Gulfstream Park and a new racing season.”