NYRA Finds a Silver Lining

Monday, 18 May 2009 18:55

By Mark Berner

When Dan Silver was named Director of Communications and Media Relations for the New York Racing Association on April 30, 2009, slightly more than five weeks before the June 6 Belmont Stakes, it seemed he had a daunting task ahead of him. But Silver is well equipped for the position. He has a strong background in journalism, in the thoroughbred industry, and has been a fan of horse racing since childhood. The 29-year-old native of Philadelphia was hooked in 1991 when Strike the Gold won the Kentucky Derby.

“My first memory of watching a horse race was the Kentucky Derby that Strike the Gold won,” Silver said. “I just remember watching it on TV and seeing him come from the back of the pack. I thought it was the most amazing thing I'd seen. I remember watching it over and over again because I taped it.” This year Mine That Bird similarly captured the imagination of many with a brilliant closing move that has since been watched repeatedly on DVR's and YouTube.

Dan Silver Silver said he cut his teeth at Delaware Park. “I would look at the Philadelphia Inquirer every day and look at the write-ups for all of the races, then I would pick the horses I thought were going to win. When I got home from school I would watch it on TV. It was something I did on a daily basis. When I got my driver's license I used to drag some of my friends and we started going there a fair amount.”

Since joining NYRA in January 2008, Silver has been Communications Manager. He was instrumental in the development of NYRA's online e-mail newsletter “On The Lead,” and the new Belmont Stakes website launched May 8, for the 141^st edition of the storied race. The site is located at www.belmontstakes.com. “Dan Silver played an essential role on the team that energized NYRA’s marketing and online communications strategies over the past two years,” said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. “His knowledge of the industry and enthusiasm for racing make him a clear and compelling choice for communicating NYRA as the premier producer of thoroughbred racing in North America.”

Silver previously pursued another passion when he was director of broadcasting, public relations and media relations for the Missouri River Otters, a professional hockey team in St. Charles, Missouri. “I'm a big ice hockey fan,” he said. “I still play hockey. I play in a nighttime league. Everywhere I've lived, I've played.”

Now a resident of Franklin Square, Silver earned a B.A. at Haverford College, a Master’s degree in journalism from Medill at Northwestern University and graduated from the first class of Master's degree students at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program. His previous experience within the industry includes positions at The Jockey Club, Philadelphia Park and Reynolds Bell Thoroughbred Services.

In addition to the newsletter and Belmont Stakes website, Silver led production of a group sales website for NYRA and in his new position he still hopes to be involved with the scheduled revamping of NYRA.com. “It's an exciting time to come to this role,” he said of his new job. “It's certainly a challenge, but I feel that I'm up to it.”

Hoof Prints: NYRA announced on May 8, 2009 that paddock analyst and popular television host, Jan Rushton, resigned her position. Rushton, a native of Easley, South Carolina, has been away since the end of January to care for her brother, Doug, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Rushton started in New York as an exercise rider for future Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey in 1981 and worked in NYRA's Press Office before she began her job as a commentator in 1995. “I would like to thank all the fans, horsemen and fellow NYRA workers for all the support through my years in racing but I have to resign my position to be caretaker for my brother, who has a serious illness,” said Rushton. “It is sad that we have to lose Jan under these unfortunate circumstances,” said NYRA President and Chief Executive Officer Charles E. Hayward. “Her knowledge and experience were invaluable to us, and she helped make a lot of friends for NYRA. She will be missed by our fans and by her NYRA family, but we understand her responsibilities to her own family.”