Newby, Zimmerman Promoted at Santa Anita

Santa Anita Park announced Feb. 22 the promotion of longtime executives Nate Newby to senior vice president and assistant general manager, and Amy Zimmerman to senior vice president and executive producer. In addition, Chris Merz, who had been the racing secretary at the Maryland Jockey Club since 2018, has returned to Santa Anita as the director of racing, assisting Steve Lym, vice president of racing.

"As I look to continuously strengthen Santa Anita with strong leadership and a dedicated team behind me, I am confident that Nate and Amy, with their vast experience and commitment to Santa Anita and the racing industry wholly, will continue to elevate 'The Great Race Place' to where it deserves to be in the top tier of racetracks worldwide," said Aidan Butler, acting executive director of California racing operations for The Stronach Group.

"I also warmly welcome Chris back to Santa Anita, a hard-working individual who has rightly earned his respect from the horsemen with his approachable attitude and understanding of Southern California racing," Butler continued.

Newby has been vice president of marketing since 2013 and has worked on the planning, marketing, and coordination of eight Breeders' Cups, in addition to heading up Santa Anita's marketing and sponsorship initiatives. Newby is an experienced hands-on horseman, working as an assistant trainer while in college at Colorado State University, as well as a skilled tournament director and handicapper. He and his wife, Sterling, are active in fundraising for the California Retirement Management Account serving off-track Thoroughbreds and currently own several ex-racehorses.

Zimmerman, a vice president of the track since 2007 and a member of the staff since 1986, is one of the most respected and honored broadcast producers in the sport, working on 26 Eclipse Award-winning, 14 Emmy-winning, and four International Simulcast Award productions. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Zimmerman has worked with NBC Sports for more than 30 years as a key member of their production team for the Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown races and is preparing for her roles this summer as a producer on her fourth Olympic Games and her first as the Pit Producer for IndyCar.

Merz returns to the Santa Anita racing office as the director of racing and will report directly to Lym, the track's vice president or racing and racing secretary. A graduate of the University of Arizona's Animal Science/Race Track Industry Program, Merz was the stakes coordinator at Santa Anita and Del Mar, and the assistant racing secretary at Los Alamitos Race Course, prior to joining the Maryland Jockey Club.