Director of Racing Relationships & Loyalty Programs

The New York Racing Association; Elmont (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is seeking a Director of Racing Relations to lead engagement with owners, trainers, and jockeys and help transition NYRA into a data-driven relationship model.

This role will shape a loyalty and hospitality strategy across Belmont Park and Saratoga, work with NYRA Bets, and partner with BI to measure participation, retention, and ROI while aligning with NYRA's strategic goals.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of experience in Thoroughbred racing, racing operations, or gaming industry relations.
• Deep knowledge of the horse racing or gaming industry and participant needs.
• Demonstrated experience designing or managing loyalty, rewards, or customer engagement programs.
• Strong analytical skills with a working understanding of ROI modeling.
• Proven leadership experience managing cross-functional initiatives and teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead NYRA’s senior relationship management for owners, trainers, and jockeys.
• Design and refine the NYRA Racing Rewards program with tiered recognition.
• Oversee premium hospitality offerings at Belmont Park and Saratoga.
• Collaborate with BI to support participant tracking and program performance.
• Partner with Racing Office, Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Security to ensure seamless execution.
• Drive KPIs for participation, retention, and incremental contributions.

Skills

Racing industry experience

Loyalty program design

Leadership

Analytics

CRM systems familiarity

Education

Advanced degree in Business or Sports Management

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is seeking a Director of Racing Relations to lead engagement with owners, trainers, and jockeys and help transition NYRA into a data-driven relationship model.

This role will shape a loyalty and hospitality strategy across Belmont Park and Saratoga, work with NYRA Bets, and partner with BI to measure participation, retention, and ROI while aligning with NYRA's strategic goals.