Anifantis hired as Monmouth Park's racing director

Michael Anifantis has been named the new director of racing at Monmouth Park. He will replace longtime department head Mike Dempsey, who announced this week that he would be retiring at the end of the year.

Anifantis, whose first job in racing was as a claims clerk at Monmouth in the 1970s, was the track’s assistant racing secretary this year. He currently is the racing secretary at Hialeah Park.

Anifantis, 63, previously was the racing secretary at Calder for 10 years and was that track’s assistant general manager for four years. Prior to that, Anifantis was racing secretary at Remington Park and assistant general manager and director of racing at SunRay Park. He also has worked at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

“I’m honored to take the helm in the racing office,” Anifantis said. “It’s as if my career has now come full circle, and I’m thrilled to be back where it all started for me.”

Anifantis is expected to start his new position in March.

“I’ve known Mike since he started here and know what an asset he has been and will be to this organization,” said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth on behalf of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.