Mr. Appelbaum is also a co-founder with Carlos Morales of Off the Hook, a breeding, racing and sales company with a farm and training center in Ocala, FL and offices in New York City, which is dedicated to the proper breeding, development and training of thoroughbred racehorses.
With Off the Hook, Mr. Appelbaum has worked with a wide variety of leading trainers including Tom Bush, Chad Brown, Jim Bond, Mike Hushion, Leah Gyarmati, Andrew Lakeman, Jorge Abreu and Todd Pletcher. Founded in 2002, Off The Hook has developed dozens of stakes winners, most notably Breeders Cup Champion Informed Decision; Grade I winners El Deal, Turbo Compressor, Zipessa and Paola Queen; and New York-bred Zivo.
Prior to entering the thoroughbred business, Mr. Appelbaum, who played football for Yale University, was a college football coach, and spent seven years coaching at five different universities, and working with future NFL stars such as Wayne Chrebet and Victor Cruz. He also served as President of Kids Interest Development Services, Inc. and co-founded Oasis Children’s Services LLC, which provides school, camp and after-school programming for thousands of children throughout the Northeast.
Mr. Appelbaum is a 1990 graduate of Yale. He served on the NYTHA Board of Directors from 2014 to 2017 and was named NYTHA President in 2017. He joined the NYRA Board of Directors in 2018.
Michael Dubb is founder and chief executive officer of The
Beechwood Organization, the largest developer of residential, single-family and
multi-family housing in New York State and ranks at the forefront of
privately-owned and award-winning residential builders nationwide.
Under his leadership, Beechwood since 1985 has built more than
9,500 homes and 70 communities with new ones on the map from the East End of
Long Island to Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx; Upstate New York in Saratoga
Springs; and in North Carolina in Charlotte and Chapel Hill.
As a NYRA board director since 2008, Mr. Dubb has led the effort to create better living conditions for backstretch workers including the construction and renovation of several dormitories at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.
An avid horseman, Mr. Dubb is a seven-time leading thoroughbred owner in New York State.
However, Mr. Dubb views his greatest achievement for the region as bringing back the New York Islanders to Nassau County. When he learned the N.H.L. team was contemplating a new arena at Citi Field, he immediately brought his business partner and friend, Charles Wang, to Belmont Park. Together, they created the vision for a new arena and presented it to Scott Malkin, a current co-owner of the Islanders, who also liked and approved the idea. Their vision became reality when UBS Arena opened to fans in 2021.
The pinnacle of Mr. Dubb’s public service is on behalf of The Belmont Childcare Association for which he serves as chairman and past president. In 2002, Mr. Dubb spearheaded, built and donated materials for construction of Anna House, a 7,500-square-foot daycare center for the children of Belmont Park’s backstretch workers, which opened that year. In the 20 years since, 1,200 children from infancy through 7th grade have attended pre-school and after-school programs.
This innovative initiative, providing daily education and care for 75 children each year, 365 days a year, was the first of its kind in the nation and set a standard for other racetracks to emulate. In 2011, given the overwhelming need for this program, and to accommodate additional children, Mr. Dubb built a 1,500-square-foot extension. In 2020, at Saratoga Race Course, he donated and built a 4300-square-foot facility, Faith’s House, which is named after his mother and opened in 2021.
Mr. Dubb is a lifelong director and former two-time president of the Long Island Builders Institute; and a former board member of the Long Island Housing Partnership.
Mr. Dubb has been honored for his achievements and philanthropy by
the American Cancer Society, American Jewish Committee, CAPTAIN Youth and
Family Services, Family Service League, Long Island Business News, Mid-Island Y
JCC, Sid Jacobson JCC and Suffolk YJCC, Rockaway Development &
Revitalization Corporation and Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.
C. Steven Duncker is a retired Partner of Goldman Sachs & Company, where he successfully led the company’s Global Credit Derivative Department.
Mr. Duncker joined Goldman Sachs & Company in 1982 and first worked in St. Louis, and then Chicago. Moving to New York, be became Vice President in 1986, and was named Partner in 1996. before retiring from the company in 2001.
Mr. Duncker is the Founder and Trustee of the C. Steven Duncker Foundation, which is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged children. He serves on several boards, including The Jockey Club, The Jockey Club Information Systems, and Equibase, Inc. Also, he is an avid thoroughbred owner and breeder, racing in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Florida.
Mr. Duncker received a bachelor’s degree, Cum Laude, from Duke University in 1980; and earned a Master of Management (M.M.), Finance, from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in 1982.
Marc Holliday was elected Chairman of the NYRA Board of Directors on December 16, 2021.
Mr. Holliday has served as SL Green’s Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Company’s Board since January 2004. He joined SL Green in 1998 as Chief Investment Officer. Under his leadership, SL Green has grown to become New York City’s largest owner of commercial office properties, holding ownership interests in more than 120 assets totaling approximately 60 million square feet.
In addition to expanding SL Green’s owned portfolio, Mr. Holliday has led several diversification activities, including a successful retail investment program, through which SL Green has emerged as a major owner of Manhattan retail properties. The Company is also a market leader in debt and preferred equity financing.
Mr. Holliday has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of New York’s “People to Watch” (2014) and was ranked #1 on the New York Observer “Commercial 100” list (2012). He was previously honored by Crain’s New York Business as part of its “40 Under 40” list (2003). He is the recipient of the National Jewish Health’s “Humanitarian Award” (2011) and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s “Intrepid Salute Award” (2017) for his significant civic and charitable contributions.
A graduate of Lehigh University, Mr. Holliday also earned a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.
As a long-time supporter of Columbia’s real estate program, Mr. Holliday established the Holliday Professorship of Real Estate Development in 2008 and is a member of the Board of Trustees, co-chairing its real estate committee. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York.
Stuart S. Janney III has served as the Chairman of Bessemer Trust Company, Bessemer Trust Company, N.A., Bessemer Group, Inc., Bessemer Trust Company of Florida and Bessemer Securities Corporation since 1995.
From 1973 to 1976, Mr. Janney held several positions in the U.S. Federal Government. In 1977, he joined the Baltimore law firm, Niles, Barton & Wilmer, serving as a partner. From 1986 to 1994, Mr. Janney was a Managing Director of Alex Brown & Sons, in charge of Asset Management.
Mr. Janney serves as Chairman of The Jockey Club and is also on the boards of the Keeneland Association and the King Ranch, Inc. He is Trustee Emeritus of The Johns Hopkins University and Chairman Emeritus of The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and serves as a Trustee of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Mr. Janney received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970 and earned and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Maryland in 1973.
Ambassador Earle I. Mack is the visionary and founder behind the Man O’ War Project at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Ambassador Mack has had a long and distinguished career in business, public service, philanthropy and horseracing.
He is a Senior Partner in The Mack Company, one of the largest real estate developers in the nation and served as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Finland under President George W. Bush.
As a former Chairman of the New York State Racing Commission, Ambassador Mack has been a fixture in horseracing for decades and a strong advocate for racehorse aftercare. He served as a Senior advisor to two former New York governors, Gov. Mario Cuomo and Gov. George Pataki, on racing and breeding in New York State. Also, he endowed the Earle I. Mack Thoroughbred Champion Award to improve the welfare and care of after-track thoroughbreds. As a horse owner, Ambassador Mack has campaigned stakes winners including Currency Arbitrage, Excellent Tipper, Icabad Crane and November Snow.
Ambassador Mack has been a leader in the promotion of the arts, culture and education. His numerous non-profit roles have included serving as Chairman and CEO of the New York State Council of the Arts, Chairman of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Co-Chairman of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Ambassador Mack received a B.S. degree from Drexel University and attended Fordham University School of Law.
Timothy (Chris) Mara is the Senior Vice President of Player Personnel for the New York Football Giants and serves on its Board of Directors.
The Mara family has owned the Giants since its inception into the National Football League in 1925. Mr. Mara has been an integral part of the Giants’ four Super Bowl Championships, in the 2011, 2007, 1990 and 1986 seasons.
Mr. Mara is an avid horse racing enthusiast and horse owner, and is a partner with Starlight Racing, which has campaigned three Kentucky Derby starters, General a Rod and Intense Holiday in 2014 and Itsaknockout in 2015.
Mr. Mara received a bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1979. He resides in Bedford, N.Y.
Georgeanna (Georgie) Nugent is the Regional Division Director for McFarland-Johnson, Inc., a multidisciplinary planning, design, and construction administration firm.
She previously served as the Director of Classic and Signature Sanctuary Programs for Audubon International and, prior to that, as Business Development Manager for Consigli Construction Co.
In 2009, Ms. Nugent was appointed to the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) Board, where she currently serves as the Chair. Also, she is a partner with StarLadies Racing, an avid horse racing fan and a former show jumper.
Ms. Nugent is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Saratoga and was previously a member of the Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission. She is actively involved with educational grant and scholarship programs for students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field.
Ms. Nugent received bachelors’ degrees in Environmental Science and Geology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh and earned a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. She and her family reside in Saratoga Springs, close to Saratoga Race Course.
David O’Rourke is the Chief Executive Officer and President of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the operator of Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of racing’s Triple Crown; Saratoga Race Course, home of the most prestigious racing meet in the U.S.; and Aqueduct Racetrack.
As one of North America’s premier thoroughbred horse racing organizations, NYRA in 2018 generated $2.1 billion in annual all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.7 million. It is the cornerstone of New York State’s thoroughbred industry, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact to New York State.
O’Rourke joined NYRA as Director of Financial Planning in 2008 and was named Vice President for Corporate Development in 2010. In 2013, he was appointed Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President. In that position, O’Rourke was responsible for NYRA’s business development strategies across a range of disciplines including industry relations, simulcast markets and contracts, television strategy, advance deposit wagering (ADW) operations and capital projects.
During his tenure at NYRA, O’Rourke served as the lead on all content-related negotiations, achieving an increase of more than $20 million in annual revenue. He played a signature role in spearheading the development and growth of NYRA Bets, NYRA’s national Advanced Deposit Wagering (ADW) platform, now available in 30 states.
O’Rourke also developed and led the strategy and investment in cloud-based video streaming technologies and Apps (NYRA Now), which have enabled NYRA to broadcast directly to various devices from TV to mobile and desktop; and transmit video to traditional TV networks such as FOX Sports and MSG. In doing so, he helped shepherd the dramatic expansion of NYRA’s flagship television broadcasts, the critically-acclaimed Belmont Park Live and Saratoga Live, which feature live coverage nearly every race day from Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.
Prior to joining NYRA, O’Rourke was a member of the Zolfo Cooper and Capstone Advisory Group Corporate Restructuring Practices, specializing in multiple operational and financial reorganization efforts in the real estate development, gaming, auto manufacturing, retailing and shipping industries. He also served as Vice President of Operations at Datek Online and was instrumental in helping the company develop into the world’s fourth largest online brokerage.
O’Rourke is a member of the NYRA Board of Directors. He is also a board member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of America; and a member of the Saratoga Race Course Local Advisory Board, and the Management Committee of Equibase Company.
O’Rourke is a graduate of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and earned an MBA from Tulane University.
Ogden Phipps II is a co-founding Partner of the private equity firm, Snow Phipps. Prior to the firm’s formation in 2005, Mr. Phipps was a founding Partner and President of Guggenheim Merchant Banking, the private equity arm of Guggenheim Capital.
Previously, Mr. Phipps worked in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group of Gleacher Partners. Mr. Phipps began his career at Goldman Sachs as a member of its Leverage Finance Group.
Mr. Phipps serves on a number of boards including Brook & Whittle, DecoPac, ECRM, Electric Guard Dog, FeraDyne Outdoors, HCTec, Ideal Tridon, Velocity Commercial Capital, Winchester Interconnect and ZeroChaos. He is also a trustee of the Bessemer Trust, Bessemer Securities, Wake Forest University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Mr. Phipps received a B.A., with honors, in Economics from Wake Forest University.
Mr. Phipps’ father, the late Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps, was the longtime chairman of The Jockey Club and of NYRA; and was inducted into the Saratoga Walk of Fame, honored for his many contributions to thoroughbred racing. Among the many successful horses raced by the family’s Phipps Stable have been Easy Goer, winner of 1989 Belmont Stakes and Travers; Rhythm, the 1990 Travers winner; Storm Flag Flying, the 2002 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly; and, with Stuart S. Janney III, Orb, winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby.
Andrew Rosen is a third-generation New York City garment industry entrepreneur who founded the fashion label, Theory, in 1997. Following the label’s acquisition by Japan’s Fast Retailing in 2008, he has continued to serve as CEO of Theory and Helmut Lang.
As a mentor to many in the fashion community, Mr. Rosen has endowed scholarships at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Central Saint Martins, and has been an active supporter of the Council of Fashion Designers of American (CFDA)/Vogue Fashion Fund. In 2013, he and the CFDA spearheaded the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, which provides grants that support the future of garment factories in Manhattan. Mr. Rosen is also a partner in the American fashion labels’ Rag & Bone, Alice & Olivia, and the luxury brand, Proenza Schouler.
Like his father before him, Mr. Rosen is actively involved in thoroughbred horse racing. With a significant racing and breeding operation in Europe and the United States, Mr. Rosen is passionate about the industry and committed to its future.
Jerry Zaro was appointed to the NYRA Board of Directors by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in February of 2022.
Mr. Zaro is an active breeder and thoroughbred owner. Among the horses he has campaigned are the New York-bred Blindwillie McTell, a three-time stakes winner; and Baby Yoda, who recorded the fastest Beyer Speed Figure [114] at all NYRA tracks in 2021.
A resident of Harrison, N.Y., Mr. Zaro is Chair of the Banking and Real Estate Services Department at Sills Cummis & Gross, a full-service corporate law firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Zaro is actively involved in the real estate industry, developing, owning, operating, and managing industrial, office and residential properties in multiple states.
In addition to his private sector experience, Mr. Zaro has held numerous commissioner and cabinet level positions in the administrations of the last eight consecutive New Jersey governors. In 2018, he was appointed as a Trustee and currently serves as Treasurer of the Gateway Development Corporation (GDC). The GDC oversees the $30 billion Gateway Project, which involves the construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River; a new Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River; and an expansion of New York’s Penn Station.
In May 2020, Mr. Zaro was appointed as a Member of Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council – Facilities and Construction Subcommittee. The Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council brought together leaders throughout New Jersey to advise state leadership on economic matters impacted by COVID-19.
In addition to his involvement with a variety of businesses and corporate boards, Mr. Zaro has been engaged in numerous charitable, governmental organizations and civic affairs. Mr. Zaro’s experience has earned him recognition in numerous industry publications, including being ranked #9 on the 2021 NJBIZ “Law Power 50” ranking of the most influential individuals in New Jersey’s legal profession.
Stuart Subotnick is President and CEO of Metromedia Company, a general partnership comprised of several private companies.
Mr. Subotnick joined the former Metromedia, Inc. in 1967 as a tax manager. In 1980, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer and became one of the principal architects of the leveraged buyout, which took the company private in 1984.
Mr. Subotnick and his late wife, Anita, formed Anstu Stable in 1992, and together, they campaigned stakes winners including Balto Star, Friendly Island, Irving’s Girl, Ibboyee and Mellow Roll.
Mr. Subotnick received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Baruch College, earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Brooklyn Law School in 1968 and a Masters in Law (L.L.M.) in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 1974.
Vincent Tese is a lawyer, investment advisor and cable television executive, and serves as Executive Chairman of Bond Street Holdings, LLC as well as the Executive Chairman of its subsidiary, Florida Community Bank.
Mr. Tese serves as a Director of several corporations, Clear Credit LLC, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Madison Square Garden. In addition, he is Trustee of New York University School of Law and New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Mr. Tese also has held a number of positions in New York State government. He was appointed a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1991 and elected its vice chairman in 1992. In 1987, Mr. Tese was named Director of Economic Development for New York State, which added to his portfolio the titles of Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and Chairman of the Science and Technology Foundation and Job Development Authority.
In 1985, Mr. Tese served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Corporation. From 1981 to 1983, he served as State Superintendent of Banks. He also chaired the New York State Advisory Commission on Racing in the 21st Century.
Mr. Tese received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pace University in 1966. Following two years as First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Brooklyn Law School in 1972, and a Masters in Law (L.L.M.) in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 1973.
Najja Thompson is Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB), which serves as the unified voice of Thoroughbred breeders in the State of New York.
NYTB works to enhance the status of New York-breds and promote the economic impact that breeders and racing contribute to New York. It does so in part by serving as an advocate for the industry in New York’s complex political environment.
Thompson joined NYTB in 2020, after nearly a decade of experience in marketing, communications, and human resources at the New York Racing Association.Thompson also serves as vice-president of the Turf Publicists of America.
A graduate of Florida State University, Thompson developed his passion for Thoroughbred racing after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, a small breeder in Florida. Growing up attending racetracks in both Florida and New York, he followed his passion to work in the industry.
Betty A. Leon, RN, Esq., was appointed to the NYRA Board of Directors by New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in April 2022.
A longtime resident of Far Rockaway, Ms. Leon is a Registered Nurse, an Attorney and a long time community leader in Queens, New York. She serves on several boards and is an Executive Member of Community Board 14(Q), Vice Chair of the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Chair of Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School, located in Far Rockaway and an Executive member of The Michael D. Richardson Foundation, that awards Scholarships to Graduating Seniors during their four (4) years of College/University.
Ms. Leon has extensive experience in the Political world, serving as Advisor to the late, Assembly Woman Pauline Rhodd-Cummings. She is a former elected Democratic State Committee Woman for the 31st Assembly District and a Judicial Delegate for Queens County Democratic Organization, voting on which Candidate would represent Queens at the Supreme Court level. She has worked on numerous Presidential. Gubernatorial, Mayoral and local Elected races.
Ms. Leon specializes her Law Practice in Medical Malpractice, Election Law, Elder Care, Wills and Estates. Earlier in her career, Ms. Leon worked as a Nurse at Kings County Hospital, a member of New York Health and Hospitals Corporation, where she supervised a staff of more than 377 nurses as Clinical and Administrative Supervisor of the Maternal-Child Department.
Ms. Leon is a graduate of Lehman College, City University of New York (CUNY) where she earned a BSc in Nursing; a graduate of New York University, where she earned a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration and a graduate of CUNY Law School where she earned a Juris Doctor (JD). She is admitted to the New York State Bar Association, United States District Court Eastern District of New York and the Supreme Court of the United States.
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