Indulto
06-25-2009, 07:29 PM
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/51396/drew-couto-resigns-as-toc-president?id=51396&source=rss (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/51396/drew-couto-resigns-as-toc-president?id=51396&source=rss)
Drew Couto Resigns as TOC President
By Jack Shinar June 25, 2009Drew Couto, who helped form the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993 and served for the past five years as president, has decided to step down.
Following a meeting, TOC's board of directors announced in a statement June 25 that Couto's contract would not be renewed and the board will begin an executive search to fill the position immediately. The statement said "it was an amicable parting of the ways."
Couto, a founding director of the organization, turned 50 at the beginning of the month. He said he felt this was the proper time to leave, adding that he has no immediate plans.
"I'm just feeling beaten up and worn out," he said. "It's time to rejuvenate my batteries before I get started again."
… Couto saw the implementation of advance deposit wagering in California and was engaged in a number of squabbles over terms between the horsemen, the ADW providers and racetrack associations. Insisting that horsemen were being consistently shortchanged, he was involved in similar fights nationally as vice president with the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group.
"I'm sure I've caused a number of battles, but not nearly as many as people have blamed me for," he said. "Eventually all of these things wear you down. I was feeling like Don Quixote, always tilting at windmills.
"I just felt it was time to step back and make some life decisions," he added. "This job is 7-24-365 and, well, I found out I'm human." …
Drew Couto Resigns as TOC President
By Jack Shinar June 25, 2009Drew Couto, who helped form the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993 and served for the past five years as president, has decided to step down.
Following a meeting, TOC's board of directors announced in a statement June 25 that Couto's contract would not be renewed and the board will begin an executive search to fill the position immediately. The statement said "it was an amicable parting of the ways."
Couto, a founding director of the organization, turned 50 at the beginning of the month. He said he felt this was the proper time to leave, adding that he has no immediate plans.
"I'm just feeling beaten up and worn out," he said. "It's time to rejuvenate my batteries before I get started again."
… Couto saw the implementation of advance deposit wagering in California and was engaged in a number of squabbles over terms between the horsemen, the ADW providers and racetrack associations. Insisting that horsemen were being consistently shortchanged, he was involved in similar fights nationally as vice president with the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group.
"I'm sure I've caused a number of battles, but not nearly as many as people have blamed me for," he said. "Eventually all of these things wear you down. I was feeling like Don Quixote, always tilting at windmills.
"I just felt it was time to step back and make some life decisions," he added. "This job is 7-24-365 and, well, I found out I'm human." …