NYTB Announces NYRA and NYTBDF Board Appointments

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders announced Dec. 28 that executive director Najja Thompson will be appointed as the NYTB's representative to the New York Racing Association Board of Directors and the New York Breeding and Development Fund Board of Directors, a move made effective at a Dec. 18 meeting of the NYTB Board.

Thompson's appointment fills the vacancies created with the resignation of former executive director Jeffrey Cannizzo, who will join NYRA Jan. 1 as senior director of government affairs.

"I feel very fortunate to represent the interests of breeders in New York with this opportunity," Thompson said. "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, has more than nine years of experience in the New York horse racing industry. A NYRA employee prior to joining NYTB Dec. 14, he worked in various roles in the marketing department, communications office, and most recently in the human resources department.

"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."

NYTB is a membership organization founded in 1974 in order to provide those individuals involved in the New York breeding and racing industry with an organization dedicated to the advancement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in New York State.

NYTB is the official authorized representative of the Thoroughbred breeding industry in New York State and the unified voice of Thoroughbred breeders in New York State for purposes of communicating the advantages and rewards of breeding Thoroughbreds in the state and for the purposes of conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing associations and agencies.