The New York Racing Association board of directors unanimously elected Marc Holliday as chairman following its regularly scheduled Dec. 16 meeting. Holliday replaces Michael Del Giudice, who retired from the NYRA Board in November.
Last month, BloodHorse reported Del Giudice's retirement and Holliday serving as interim chairman.
EHALT: Del Giudice Retires; Holliday Interim NYRA Chairman
Appointed to the NYRA Board in 2014, Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is chairman and CEO of SL Green Realty Corp., New York City's largest owner of office properties. Holliday has served as the CEO there since 2004 and became chairman of the board in 2019.
A graduate of Lehigh University, Mr. Holliday earned a master's in real estate development from Columbia University.
"I am honored to succeed Michael Del Giudice and grateful for his work returning NYRA to a period of sustained excellence and financial stability," Holliday said in a release. "Michael skillfully guided the association through a time of uncertainty, and NYRA today is as strong as any point in its history. Horse racing is an engine for the New York economy and deeply intertwined in the cultural fabric of the state. It is a privilege to play a role in the future of the sport I care so deeply about."
Biographical information about the NYRA board of directors
A prominent horse owner and breeder, Holliday founded Blue Devil Racing Stable in 2006. Most notable among a number of Blue Devil stakes winners is homebred Come Dancing, who won five graded stakes in New York including the 2019 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. The popular runner is now a broodmare and is in foal to Into Mischief .
"NYRA is in a strong position for continued success thanks to the commitment and leadership of the board of directors," said NYRA president and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "On behalf of the entire organization, I thank Michael Del Giudice for his dedicated service and congratulate Marc Holliday on his new role."
Del Giudice joined the NYRA Board in 2003 and was appointed chairman in 2017. From 2015 to 2017, he acted as chairman of the NYRA reorganization board. During his tenure, NYRA returned to sound financial footing and enhanced the quality, safety, and integrity of its racing operations.
Under the leadership of Del Giudice, NYRA completed a series of significant capital improvement projects to better the fan experience and modernize racing, training, and backstretch facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
The organizational structure of the NYRA board was established in 2017 according to legislation enacted through the New York State budget, which returned majority control of NYRA back to the not-for-profit organization and dissolved the temporary NYRA reorganization board established in 2012 by the New York State Legislature.
