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Hunter Rankin Named Churchill Downs’ Senior Director Of Racing

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday that Hunter Rankin has been hired as Senior Director of Racing for the Company. The role was recently vacated following Mike Ziegler's promotion to General Manager of Churchill Downs Racetrack in December 2020.

As CDI's Senior Director of Racing, Rankin will act as a representative and liaison to the U.S. Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry and champion Company initiatives aimed at supporting and enhancing the racing and breeding landscape. He will focus on the implementation of standards and processes outlined in the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (“HISA”) across all of the Company's racing properties while representing CDI's interests as an advocate for important issues and policies within the racing and breeding industry.

“Hunter brings to this role a breadth of relationships he has developed with key stakeholder groups within the racing and breeding industries,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “His keen familiarity with HISA will help lead the Company and its racing assets into a successful future within a continuously-changing and evolving industry.”

Prior to this role, Rankin was the President of Sagamore Farm where he oversaw all farm and Sagamore Racing operations while also building Sagamore Farm as a hospitality asset. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Sagamore Development (now known as Weller Development) and as a Partner at Sterling Thompson Company where he managed commercial insurance profiles for large real estate, construction and equine businesses.

Rankin holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is the son of R. Alex Rankin, chairman of the board of Churchill Downs Inc.

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Santa Anita: Nate Newby Named General Manager, Chris Merz Promoted To Racing Secretary

Santa Anita Park announced the promotion of Nate Newby to General Manager and Chris Merz to Racing Secretary. Merz adds the title to his current position of Santa Anita's Director of Racing and will be responsible for writing the condition books for Santa Anita's upcoming 84th season which begins on Dec. 26.

The increased responsibilities come as Santa Anita has spent the past 18 months successfully implementing industry leading health and safety protocols for horses and riders and keeping the Santa Anita racing community protected during a global pandemic.

The promotion of Newby from his current position as Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager comes as Aidan Butler, who has headed the California Operations for The Stronach Group, transitions to his new role as Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing and President of 1/ST Content and will be based out of Florida. Newby has been at Santa Anita for nearly 20 years and has been the Vice President of Marketing since 2013. A hands-on horseman, Newby also is a skilled tournament director and handicapper.

Merz returned to the Santa Anita racing office in early 2020 after a stint as the Racing Secretary at the Maryland Jockey Club. His familiarity with the Santa Anita horsemen and horses dates back several years from when he served as the stakes coordinator at Santa Anita and Del Mar, and the Assistant Racing Secretary at Los Alamitos, prior to joining the Maryland Jockey Club.

“These well-deserved promotions are a reflection of the great bench strength in place at Santa Anita,” said Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, in making the announcement. “Both Nate and Chris helped guide Santa Anita through a very difficult time and, with Aidan now heading up our company's East Coast operations, we are fortunate to maintain the continuity of the team.”

Steve Lym, who has served as Santa Anita's VP-Racing since late 2018, has been appointed Senior VP for Racing Development for 1/ST Racing and will be assisting Butler in his new role.

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Help Wanted: Penn Gaming Seeking Directors Of Racing For Mahoning, The Meadows

Penn National Gaming, Inc., the largest operator of pari-mutuel racetracks in North America, is currently seeking applications for Director of Racing positions at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown, Ohio and The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, PA.

“With the announced retirement of current Vice President of Racing Mark Loewe from our Mahoning Valley and Meadows operations we are now looking at Director of Racing positions at those individual properties, said Chris McErlean, Vice President of Racing for Penn National Gaming, Inc. “We are seeking individuals who can bring a strong racing background while combining exceptional leadership and business skills in overseeing the entire racing and wagering operations at those respective locations.”

“I do want to thank Mark for his outstanding contributions to the Penn Gaming racing team since coming on board in 2008 and being a leader at seven different racetracks during that time,” added McErlean.

Mahoning Valley Race Course is a thoroughbred racing facility offering 100 days of live racing, stabling for nearly 1,000 horses and conducts year-round simulcasting. The facility commenced operations in 2014 and has quickly established an enviable niche in the Ohio and regional racing circuit as well as the national simulcast marketplace.

The Meadows is one of North America's premier harness racetracks with nearly 190 live harness race dates conducted year-round. The five-eighths mile track has a barn area for nearly 800 horses and is home to one of the top three-year-old pacing events in the sport, “The Adios,” conducted each summer. The Meadows also offers year-round simulcast wagering.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for these positions at the following links:

Director of Racing Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course

https://careers-pngaming.icims.com/jobs/76273/director-of-racing/job

Director of Racing Meadows Racetrack and Casino

https://careers-pngaming.icims.com/jobs/76397/director-of-racing/job

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Chris Polzin Named Indiana Grand’s Director of Racing

Arlington Park’s former director of racing and racing secretary, Chris Polzin, will assume the same titles and duties at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, beginning Monday, Oct. 26.

Associated with racing for nearly 40 years, Polzin is an Illinois native whose father, Elmer Polzin, was a Chicago-area turf writer and handicapper. Polzin has been with Arlington Park since the early ’80s, holding positions ranging from press box statistician to clerk of scales. He was the director of racing and racing secretary for the past 11 years.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to joining the Indiana racing program,” said Polzin. “The breeding industry in Indiana right now is fantastic and the purse structure is very solid. I have also seen how dedicated track management is to the horsemen and the racing program. Their commitment to see the industry grow is very impressive. I look forward to being part of that vision.”

Indiana Grand, which has a one-mile dirt track and a seven-furlong turf course, will hold live racing in 2020 until Nov. 19.

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