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NYTB’s Najja Thompson Appointed To NYRA Board Of Directors

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) has announced that Executive Director Najja Thompson will be appointed, as the NYTB's representative, to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Board of Directors and the New York Breeding and Development Fund Board of Directors made effective at a Dec. 18 meeting of the Board.

Thompson's appointment fills the vacancies created with the resignation of former Executive Director Jeffrey Cannizzo, who will join NYRA on Jan. 1 as Senior Director of Government Affairs.

“I feel very fortunate to represent the interests of breeders in New York with this opportunity,” said Thompson. “The state of New York plays an integral part as a leader in our industry, and I'm honored to play a direct role in continuing to better our sport as a member of both the NYRA and the New York Breeding and Development Fund Board of Directors.”

Thompson, a graduate of Florida State University and Vice-President of the Turf Publicists of America, Inc., has over nine years of experience in the New York horse racing industry. A former employee of the New York Racing Association, Inc. prior to joining the NYTB on Dec. 14. He worked in various roles in the marketing department, communications office, and most recently in the human resources department at NYRA.

“The NYTB Board of Directors is pleased to have Najja represent us on both the NYRA and New York State Development and Breeding Fund Boards,” said Thomas Gallo, President of the NYTB who made the motions to appoint him. “With his background, experience, and expertise he will be able to be an innovative force in synergizing the accomplished members of all boards to forward the interests of breeding and racing in New York. I am confident he will usher us into a new era of strength through unity in building a bigger and better Thoroughbred Horse industry in New York.”

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Davis Elected President of Turf Publicists of America

Wendy Davis from the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona has been elected president of the Turf Publicists of America (TPA) for 2021 and 2022, it was announced Tuesday by outgoing President Amy Gregory. At the same time, it was announced that Najja Thompson from the New York Thoroughbred Breeders has been re-elected as a vice president, and because of a tie in the voting both Claire Crawford from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Kevin Kerstein from Churchill Downs Racetrack have been elected vice presidents for the first time. Each will serve a two-year term in 2021 and 2022. Davis, Thompson, Crawford and Kerstein join vice presidents Tom LaMarra, Erin Shea and Amy Zimmerman and secretary-treasurer Dave Zenner, each of whom was elected to a two-year term last year.

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Wendy Davis Elected President Of Turf Publicists Of America

Wendy Davis from the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona has been elected president of the Turf Publicists of America (TPA) for 2021 and 2022, announced outgoing President Amy Gregory on Tuesday.

At the same time, TPA announced that Najja Thompson from the New York Thoroughbred Breeders has been re-elected as a vice president, and due to a tie in the voting both Claire Crawford from the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Kevin Kerstein from Churchill Downs Racetrack have been elected vice presidents for the first time. Each will serve a two-year term in 2021 and 2022.

Davis, Thompson, Crawford and Kerstein join vice presidents Tom LaMarra, Erin Shea and Amy Zimmerman and secretary-treasurer Dave Zenner, each of whom was elected to a two-year term last year.

LaMarra serves as the Communications Director for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Managing Editor of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association website and Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships. Shea is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Zimmerman is Senior Vice President and Executive Producer for Santa Anita. Zenner is a freelance publicist and racing official.

The new slate of officers was installed immediately.

The TPA, founded in 1951, is comprised of approximately 130 Thoroughbred racing publicists and marketing executives at racetracks throughout North America with the shared goal of promoting the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Each year at the Global Symposium on Racing, the TPA organizes the Mark Kaufman Workshop on a topic relevant to publicists and marketers, awards the Big Sport of Turfdom to recognize an individual or individuals who enhanced the sport of Thoroughbred racing through their cooperation with the media and racetrack personnel.

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Najja Thompson Appointed Executive Director Of New York Thoroughbred Breeders

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Najja Thompson as the new Executive Director of the Saratoga-based organization; Thompson will begin his role Dec. 14.

Thompson has over nine years of experience as a member of the New York Racing Association, Inc. since 2011, serving in various roles in the marketing department and communications office. Most recently, he worked as a recruitment and employee engagement specialist, where he was responsible for identifying and cultivating new talent and developing onboarding initiatives. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of the Turf Publicists of America, Inc.

“We are delighted to have Najja join the New York Thoroughbred Breeders as Executive Director,” said Thomas Gallo, President of the NYTB. “With Najja's direct industry experience in New York and a deep knowledge of the New York horse industry landscape I feel very confident that he can continue moving NYTB forward in a positive direction.”

A graduate of Florida State University, Najja developed his passion for Thoroughbred racing after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, a small-time breeder in Florida. Growing up attending racetracks in both Florida and New York, he followed his passion to work in the industry.

“I am excited to step into this role with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” Thompson said. “It's a privilege to work on behalf of the horsemen and women in the Thoroughbred breeding industry. I look forward to the opportunity to advance the efforts and accomplishments of NYTB in enhancing the status of New York-breds and promoting the economic impact breeders and New York racing contributes to our state.”

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