Bonomo takes leave of absence as NYRA board chairman

Anthony Bonomo, the chairman of the board of the New York Racing Association, is taking a leave of absence, effective immediately, NYRA officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Bonomo informed Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday by letter that he was taking the leave, citing the distraction of “recent events.” In May, prosecutors for the Southern District of New York alleged in a wide-ranging indictment that Adam Skelos, the son of New York state Sen. Dean Skelos, had been given a no-show job at a company that has since been identified as a firm headed by Bonomo.

NYRA officials declined to comment beyond confirming that Bonomo has stepped aside. Michael del Giudice, who was elected vice chairman of the board in April, will temporarily assume the chairman’s duties, the NYRA officials said.

Bonomo, who owns Brooklyn Boyz Stables and races horses with his wife, MaryEllen, under the name MEB Stables, was first appointed to the NYRA board in 2012, one of eight picks by Cuomo after engineering a state takeover of the association’s board. Bonomo has been a major fundraiser for Cuomo and other top state politicians.

Bonomo was elevated to chairman in April, five months after the former chairman, David Skorton, stepped down. His election was announced just after Cuomo said the state would retain control over NYRA’s board for an additional year.

Dean Skelos has stepped down from his position as Senate majority leader due to the wide-ranging corruption investigation. Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that he used his position in state government to enrich his son. According to the indictment, Adam Skelos was paid $100,000 a year for a no-show job at an unnamed medical malpractice company, and last week, Albany media reports identified the company as Physician Reciprocal Insurers, a Long Island company headed by Bonomo.

Bonomo is the president of Administrators for the Professions Inc., an insurance-company management organization that operates Physicians Reciprocal Insurers, which provides malpractice insurance. Bonomo acquired Administrators for the Professions in 2006 and has served as its president since 1995. He is a graduate of St. John’s University of New York.

Dean Skelos, 67, and his son were arrested May 4 at the direction of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who has led several investigations into Albany corruption, after the release of the initial indictment. Both have pleaded not guilty on bribery and extortion charges.

In a new indictment released last week reaffirming the original charges, Bharara’s office alleged that Adam Skelos was given the job because the insurance company was seeking favors from Dean Skelos. The indictment says the company “provided Adam Skelos with a no-show job while actively lobbying Dean Skelos on legislative matters.”