The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Board of Trustees today unanimously approved the appointment of Mike Mullaney as the fund’s executive director.
Mullaney will be responsible for the daily oversight of the fund’s business, including promoting the breeding of New York-bred standardbred horses and coordinating the state’s premier harness racing program, the New York Sire Stakes. He will also oversee the administration of the Excelsior, State Fair and County Fair harness races. Additionally, Mullaney will coordinate the fund’s distribution of assistance to county agricultural societies and contributions to New York’s 4-H program and the Harry M. Zweig Fund for Equine Research.
“Mike brings to the fund a wealth of knowledge in horse racing and effective marketing and business management,” fund chairman John D. Sabini said. “His expertise will serve New York’s agricultural sector well and we look forward to working with him to further promote New York’s renowned standardbred breeding and racing program.”
“Throughout his career, Mike Mullaney has demonstrated a great ability to see the big picture and bring forth positive results,” said Darrel J. Aubertine, commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets and a member of the Board of Trustees. “I congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment and look forward to working with him on behalf of New York’s agriculture and horse racing industries.”
“I’m proud to promote and enhance New York’s already-stellar standardbred breeding and racing programs and further the fund’s mission,” said Mullaney. “The fund plays a vital role in supporting New York’s agricultural economy, and I am eager to do my part to help our breeding program grow even further.”
Mullaney most recently served as general manager of Arizona’s Yavapai County Farm & Agriculture Association from 2011 to 2012. Prior to that, he was director of Media Relations for Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida for 10 years. Mullaney began his career as an editor for the Daily Racing Form and later deputy managing editor for Secaucus, N.J.-based Travel Weekly.
A resident of Saratoga Springs, Mullaney has a B.A. in Journalism with minors in Asian Religion and European History from the University of South Carolina.
(Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund)