The Harness Horse Breeders of New York State has named Betty Holt its executive director

. Holt, who has been working in the horse racing and breeding industries for 30 years, has been elevated to this post after serving as the organization’s administrative director for four years.

Harness Horse Breeders provides services to the New York Sire Stakes program through a contract with the state, and Holt will continue to oversee these activities and others that the organization regularly undertakes to improve racing and breeding in New York.

“Betty has been an invaluable asset to Harness Horse Breeders during recent years and has provided the kind of assistance and direction that our breeders have needed during several significant transitions in the state breeding and racing program,” said David Hanson, president of Harness Horse Breeders. “She served on our board of directors before helping to administer the organization and her dedication to the standardbred breeders and owners in the state is unrivaled."

Holt is the owner of Silver Maple Farm in East Chatham, NY, where she has a breeding and boarding operation and races her own stable.

Her background in both racing and breeding extends to both standardbreds and thoroughbreds. She formerly served as the farm manager for the late Joe Gerrity’s Little Farm in Kinderhook, NY. She worked there for 24 years on this dual-breed farm with stallions, a broodmare band, yearlings and young racehorses under her purview. Holt also gained experience on the thoroughbred operation Sunnyview Farm in Ghent, NY.

(HHBNY)