Tag: People

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the appointment of Andrew Offerman as Vice President and General Manager of Operations. In this newly created position, which takes effect on November 11, Offerman will oversee frontside operations at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

“Andrew is a seasoned executive and proven leader who will bring considerable skills to the talented team we have assembled at NYRA,” said Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “He is a strategic thinker who understands that horse racing is rapidly evolving, and we are pleased to welcome him in this wide-ranging new role.”

Prior to NYRA, Offerman served as Senior Vice President of Racing Operations at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. In this role, he was responsible for many of Canterbury's operational departments, including frontside racing functions.

“NYRA sets the gold standard in our sport, and I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity to help shape the future of the organization,” said Offerman. “My experiences at Canterbury Park have prepared me for this next chapter and I'm thrilled it will be at the finest and most important racing organization in the country. I'd like to thank Canterbury Park and its racing community for their support throughout my tenure.”

Offerman worked at Canterbury Park first as a seasonal employee during college, joined Canterbury Park in a full-time role in 2010, and was repeatedly promoted to several jobs carrying increased responsibility and seniority. He became the company's top racing executive in 2017, and quickly implemented strategies that drove consistent and sustained increases in wagering handle and associated revenue.

He holds advisory and governance positions in a number of horse racing organizations including the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Advisory Committee; Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA); American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Racing Committee, and Vice Chair of the Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse Breeders' Fund Advisory Committees of the Minnesota Racing Commission.

A native of Minneapolis, Offerman earned an M.S. degree from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) and holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College.

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There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony for Dave Brower at The Meadowlands on Saturday, Nov. 12, and anyone who appreciated his dedication to the sport of harness racing is welcome to be there.

Brower, who passed away at age 53 of natural causes while on assignment in Lexington (KY) on Oct. 7, was the longtime lead TV personality, oddsmaker and program analyst at The Big M. His long resume includes many national TV gigs, the most recent being this year's Hambletonian, which was broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

“We were pleased the Brower family wanted to have Dave's memorial at the track where he was such a popular figure,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “This will give all of Dave's family and friends a chance to exchange stories in the place where he was such an impactful personality.”

“We think The Meadowlands is the perfect place to have Dave's celebration of life,” said Brower's sister, Laura. “He loved his job, but even more than that, he loved all of the people at the track, those who worked there, as well as the fans.”

“Dave loved it when there were big races on a card,” said Dave Little, Brower's broadcast partner for the last five years. “So having this night for him when the Kindergarten finals are taking place is appropriate. It'll be great to have his family, the horsemen and all the fans there to pay tribute to my great friend, but when it's time to go on-camera, I will be missing him terribly.”

Brower will be honored before the race card, beginning at approximately 5:45 p.m.

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Two graded stakes wins, including the prestigious Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, led veteran New York jockey Jose Lezcano to be voted Jockey of the Week for Oct. 3 through Oct. 9. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Riding for Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott at the Belmont at the Big A meet on Saturday, Lezcano was aboard Elite Power in the G2 Vosburgh Stakes, a “Win And You're In” for a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. As the favorite in the field of five, Elite Power sat in second early making the front before a half-mile was run. Turning for home, Elite Power opened up and won as easily as the 1-2 odds suggested to post a 5 3/4-length win in 1:23.98 for seven furlongs.

“He was very comfortable the whole way around, I could go to the lead when I want,” said Lezcano.

Riding again for trainer Bill Mott, Lezcano was the pilot for the first time on the 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess taking on males for the first time in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Breaking from post position two, War Like Goddess sat a comfortable third, two paths off the rail down the backstretch. Around the far turn, she matched strides with Bye Bye Melvin and surged clear to post an emphatic by 2 3/4-length win in 2:27.29 for the 12-furlong inner turf test.

The connections intend to run War Like Goddess against males again in the G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.

“She's a very nice mare and she does everything right,” said Lezcano. “When I asked her, she gave me her race. When you ride a horse for Billy, you've always got a chance to win this kind of race.”

Lezcano, a 37-year-old native of Chiriqui, Panama, began riding horses on father's farm before attending the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Jockey School in Panama. Lezcano moved to the United States in 2003 and made his first start on March 14, 2004 at Gulfstream Park winning his first race that same day. Lezcano has won multiple leading rider titles including Gulfstream Park, The Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and at the 2019 Belmont Park spring/summer meet. He won his 3,000th career win on May 5, 2022 at Belmont Park. He is currently in second place in the Belmont at the Big A jockey standings with 16 wins.

Weekly statistics for Lezcano included six wins and $633,688 in total purses.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Arnaldo Bocachica who won three stakes races at Charles Town, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with four graded stakes wins, Umberto Rispoli with two graded stakes wins, and Miguel A. Vasquez who led all riders in wins with 10.

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Longtime horseman and racing official Richard (Dick) Gaffalione passed away on Oct. 6 at the age of 81, according to an obituary posted on www.caruth-hale.com.

Gaffalione spent time in the Thoroughbred industry as a trainer, owner, agent, and valet, and served as a placing judge for the Arkansas Racing Commission at Oaklawn Park until his passing.

He enjoyed watching his nephews, jockeys Terry Houghton and Tyler Gaffalione, find their own success on the racetrack.

“He was a gentleman of the sport who will be missed,” said James Lages, associate state steward at Horseshoe Indianapolis, who'd worked with Gaffalione at Oaklawn last winter.

A memorial service is being planned for the end of 2022.

The obituary concludes: “In lieu of flowers, Dick would want you to buy a lottery ticket, and win something in his honor.”

The full obituary is available here: https://www.caruth-hale.com/obituaries/Richard-Veo-Gaffglione?obId=26093091

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