NYRA

[miff]

Panza offered NYRA Executive Director of Racing position
The New York Racing Association has made its selection to fill the new executive director of racing position according to several sources.
 
Martin Panza, the racing secretary and vice president of racing at Hollywood Park, has been chosen but the NYRA is still waiting to hear from the 50-year-old to decide.
 
Both Panza and the New York Racing Association declined to comment.
 
The NYRA has been looking for an executive director of racing since hiring Chris Kay on July 1 as the company's President and CEO.
 
Kay, an attorney with limited racing knowledge, who served as the Chief Operating Officer for The Trusv for Public Land and Toys 'R' Us, said naming an executive director of racing was going to be one of his top priorities.
 
Panza nosed out other top former racing executives Bill Murphy and Lou Raffetto for the prized job.
 
When asked earlier this summer about hiring an individual with a strong racing background to complement his leadership and management experience, Kay responded, "We are going to look at that. Clearly, there are some very talented people in racing (and) to bring in someone like you describe I think could be very beneficial."
 
Kay replaced Charles Hayward, who was fired in May 2012 because of a takeout scandal, where NYRA overcharged bettors for over a year. Ellen McClain, the chief financial officer during the takeout scandal, served as the interim president and CEO before resigning in April.
 
Hollywood Park is in its last year of operation and is scheduled to close on Dec. 22.