By Bill Finley
Bob Kulina, the president of Monmouth Park operator Darby Development, has decided to retire after a 45-year career at the New Jersey racetrack. Kulina made the announcement Friday morning.
“I have been wrestling with the decision for some time,” Kulina said. “I'm 68 and it's just time. I felt this was the time to announce it so that the new team will have plenty of time to prepare for the 2018 meet. I first came here when I was 13 years old with my dad [trainer Joe Kulina] and I've been here ever since. I've never had a summer off. I always wanted that, to be able to get away for a month in the summer, but that wouldn't have been fair to Monmouth or the people who work here.”
Kulina's first major job at Monmouth was as the racing secretary, a role he took over at age 27.
“This has been more than a job for me,” he said. “It has been a way of life. I feel so fortunate to have been here all these years and we've ad a great run.”
During his tenure in the Monmouth Park racing office, Kulina developed the popular overnight stakes program, which has become a standard in the industry. After 15 years as racing secretary, Kulina was named General Manager/Thoroughbred Racing at Monmouth in 1991. Soon thereafter he added that title at the Meadowlands and oversaw Thoroughbred operations for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority racetracks until 2012. During that time he was instrumental in developing the Haskell Invitational into a race of national prominence and the next stop for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown.
Upon the signing of a lease of Monmouth Park to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in 2012, Kulina was named President of Darby Development, LLC, the management company for the racetrack.
“For the past six years, and decades before that, Bob has embodied everything that is good about Monmouth Park and horse racing in New Jersey,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby. “Through his stewardship, Monmouth Park and our racing brand have enjoyed exponential growth and continue to be a premier destination for horsemen and racing fans. I thank him for his years of service to this industry and his dedication to ensure its success for many years to come.”
Kulina said he would like to remain on at Monmouth in some capacity, perhaps as a consultant, but stressed that he will fully step aside from the day-to-day operations of the racetrack.
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