Todd Haight, who is the director and general manager of live racing at Batavia Downs, was named the interim chairman of United States Trotting Association District 8 region on Friday, April 17).
Haight will replace longtime District 8 chairman Michael Kane, who resigned earlier this year.
Haight’s peers elected him to his first term as a director during voting that was conducted in January of this year, and was assigned to the communications/marketing, pari-mutuel and regulatory committees. Haight’s peers voting him to the chairman position again last week.
District 8 covers all of New York State as far south as Orange County. The roster of current directors includes Kim Crawford, Mark Ford, John Matarazzo, Ray Schnittker, Mike Torcello and Scott Warren.
“I want to thank Mike Kane for the outstanding job he did during his tenure as chair,” said Haight. “Having worked with Mike for many years, I feel the transition to his position should be seamless. I’m honoured to take over and look forward to working with USTA President Russell Williams, Chairman Joe Faraldo, Vice-chair Mark Loewe and all the USTA directors.
“Despite the unprecedented times we are all currently working through, I feel that harness racing will return to the sports scene very soon and regain its popularity once again. And in my new role I plan on doing whatever I can to be a part of that resurgence in New York and across North America.”
Kelly Young is the executive director at the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and oversees the operations of the New York Sire Stakes. She works closely with the chairman of District 8 during the stakes year as well as running the awards banquet in the fall. Young has worked with Haight for many years and looks forward to further concerted state racing promotional efforts with him in his new role.
“I have been pleased to work with Todd for nearly two decades at Batavia Downs and am excited to welcome him to, and work with him, in this new role leading upstate New York,” said Young. “I would also like to thank outgoing chairman Mike Kane for his collaboration and leadership over the years.”
Haight started his career with Western Regional OTB in 1998 when it became the new owner of Batavia Downs. He then served in various positions at the track before taking over as the director and general manager of racing in May of 2011.
(Batavia Downs)