.Com › NYRA hires new director of communications
John Durso Jr., whose professional experience mostly is in the
political and public policy arena, has been hired as the director of
communications for the New York Racing Association, it was announced
Friday afternoon. Durso replaces Eric Wing, who resigned his position at
NYRA in May after just one year on the job.
Durso, 39, will lead all corporate communications and serve as principal spokesperson for NYRA, which conducts racing at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Durso comes to NYRA from New Jersey Transit, the nation’s third-largest public transportation agency, for which he served as senior director and chief spokesperson the last 2 1/2 years.
Prior to that, Durso worked as executive director for the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance, a New York lobby group. He also has worked for several politicians, including former New York Gov. George Pataki.
Durso grew up on Long Island and is a graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, N.Y. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Siena College near Albany. He said he spent numerous days at Saratoga. Durso said his grandfather was a racing fan and took him to Roosevelt Raceway and Belmont.
Asked what interested him in working for NYRA, Durso said, “It’s the prestige. The NYRA is the pre-eminent force in Thoroughbred racing. And this is coming home. I’m from Long Island. My family is from Long Island. My history is on Long Island.”
“I am pleased to welcome John into the NYRA family,” said NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay. “John is a seasoned, tested communications professional who clearly understands Thoroughbred racing’s important impact on New York’s growing economy. His knowledge, experience, and leadership will serve our organization well.”
Durso has been awarded “40 Under 40” honors from City Hall newspaper (2009) and The Capitol newspaper (2011) and also received a Civilian Commendation Award from the NJ TRANSIT Police Department (NJTPD).
Stop scratching on holidays
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
Durso, 39, will lead all corporate communications and serve as principal spokesperson for NYRA, which conducts racing at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Durso comes to NYRA from New Jersey Transit, the nation’s third-largest public transportation agency, for which he served as senior director and chief spokesperson the last 2 1/2 years.
Prior to that, Durso worked as executive director for the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance, a New York lobby group. He also has worked for several politicians, including former New York Gov. George Pataki.
Durso grew up on Long Island and is a graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, N.Y. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Siena College near Albany. He said he spent numerous days at Saratoga. Durso said his grandfather was a racing fan and took him to Roosevelt Raceway and Belmont.
Asked what interested him in working for NYRA, Durso said, “It’s the prestige. The NYRA is the pre-eminent force in Thoroughbred racing. And this is coming home. I’m from Long Island. My family is from Long Island. My history is on Long Island.”
“I am pleased to welcome John into the NYRA family,” said NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay. “John is a seasoned, tested communications professional who clearly understands Thoroughbred racing’s important impact on New York’s growing economy. His knowledge, experience, and leadership will serve our organization well.”
Durso has been awarded “40 Under 40” honors from City Hall newspaper (2009) and The Capitol newspaper (2011) and also received a Civilian Commendation Award from the NJ TRANSIT Police Department (NJTPD).
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scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
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