Senior Director Racing Relations

New York Racing Association•Elmont, NY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Racing Relations is a strategic leadership role responsible for transforming NYRA’s engagement with racing participants—owners, trainers, and jockeys—into a best-in-class, data-driven relationship model. In addition to leading NYRA’s interaction with racing participants throughout the world, this role will design, implement, and continuously refine an industry-leading recognition program that mirrors best practices from casino, airline and other highly competitive industry loyalty ecosystems, while remaining tailored to the unique dynamics of thoroughbred racing. The position assists in the delivery of high-touch hospitality experiences at New Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, ensuring that NYRA participants feel valued, prioritized, and deeply connected to the organization. Blending industry expertise, relationship management, and customer reinvestment strategy, the Senior Director will serve as a key architect in elevating NYRA’s competitive position and strengthening long-term participation across its racing circuits.

Requirements

8–10+ years of experience in Thoroughbred racing, racing operations, or gaming industry relations.
Deep knowledge of the horse racing or gaming industry and participant/customer needs.
Demonstrated experience designing or managing loyalty, rewards, or customer engagement programs.
Strong analytical skills with a working understanding of customer reinvestment strategy and ROI modeling.
Proven leadership experience managing cross-functional initiatives and teams.

Nice To Haves

Established network of relationships within the racing community (owners, trainers, jockeys, agents).
Experience in gaming, hospitality, or sports environments with exposure to loyalty program design.
Familiarity with CRM systems and data analytics platforms.
Advanced degree in Business, Sports Management, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Serve as NYRA’s senior relationship lead for owners, trainers, and jockeys, fostering strong, trust-based partnerships.
Leverage deep industry knowledge and established connections to enhance recruitment, retention, and overall participant satisfaction.
Act as a key liaison between racing participants and NYRA leadership, ensuring alignment of interests and proactive issue resolution.
Represent NYRA at industry events, sales, and stakeholder meetings to strengthen brand presence and engagement.
Lead the creation (through internal or external means) and execution of a comprehensive NYRA Racing Rewards program focused on participation, performance, and engagement.
Develop a tiered recognition structure that appropriately values participation across key meets (e.g., Saratoga, Belmont Stakes Festival, Belmont Fall/Spring/Winter).
Implement a customer reinvestment (CR) strategy that prioritizes experiential rewards.
Establish theoretical value models to guide reinvestment.
Continuously evaluate program effectiveness using KPIs such as participation growth, retention, and incremental contribution.
Work with the Premium Services team on the design and execution of premium hospitality offerings for racing participants at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.
Collaborate with operations, food & beverage, and event teams to deliver best-in-class race day experiences, including stakes days, festivals, and marquee events.
Ensure hospitality offerings reflect participant tiering and loyalty status, reinforcing the value of engagement within the program.
Develop innovative, differentiated experiences (e.g., exclusive access, behind-the-scenes opportunities, concierge services).
Partner with business intelligence teams to develop and maintain a robust data infrastructure supporting participant tracking and program performance.
Analyze participation trends, horse inventory movement, and competitive landscape to inform strategic decision-making.
Identify opportunities to optimize scheduling, incentives, and engagement strategies based on participant behavior and industry dynamics.
Work closely with Racing Office, Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Security to ensure seamless execution of participant-focused initiatives.
Support broader NYRA strategic initiatives, particularly those tied to the opening and success of New Belmont Park.
Contribute to SOP development and enterprise-wide best practices related to participant engagement and service delivery.