NYRA Photo

Marc Holliday elected chair of NYRA Board of Directors

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Board of Directors has unanimously elected Marc Holliday as chairman following today’s regularly scheduled meeting of the board. Mr. Holliday replaces Michael Del Giudice, who retired from the NYRA Board in November. 

Appointed to the NYRA Board in 2014, Mr. Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SL Green Realty Corp (NYSE: SLG), which is New York City’s largest owner of office properties. Mr. Holliday has served as the SLG CEO 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,” said Mr. Holliday. “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.”

A prominent horse owner and breeder, Mr. Holliday founded Blue Devil Racing Stable in 2006. Most notable among a number of Blue Devil stakes winners is the homebred Come Dancing, who won the Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina, Grade 2 Ruffian, Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap and Grade 3 Distaff Handicap in 2019 on the NYRA circuit. The popular mare added the Grade 2 Honorable Miss to her ledger last year and is now retired as a broodmare 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 & 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.”

Mr. 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 of Directors. During his tenure, NYRA returned to sound financial footing and enhanced the quality, safety, and integrity of its racing operations. 

Under the leadership of Mr. Del Giudice, NYRA completed a series of significant capital improvement projects to improve the fan experience and modernize racing, training and backstretch facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. 

The organizational structure of the NYRA Board of Directors was established in 2017 according to legislation enacted through the FY 2018 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 by the New York State Legislature in 2012. 

For biographical information about the NYRA Board of Directors, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/about/board-of-directors.