Hollywood Park: Panza heads east for new challenge

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It was moving day on Sunday for Martin Panza, as he packed up 20 years of memories into several boxes in the racing office at Betfair Hollywood Park and prepared for a day when he would say good-bye to many of his colleagues before heading to New York for his new position with the New York Racing Association.

Standing behind the desk that had been part of his workspace for 20 years, Panza looked around and said, “Yes, been here a long time.”

“It’s hard for everyone,” Panza said of the imminent closing of Hollywood Park. “I’m just jumping ship a little earlier than everyone else. I’ve worked at this place a long time. It’s closing. It’s a sad day.”

Panza, 50, worked on the Southern California circuit for more than 25 years and was racing secretary at Hollywood Park for nearly 20 years. He rose to the position of vice president of racing. But with Hollywood Park closing and with his track record of excellence, he became a hot commodity and was lured by NYRA to leave his native Southern California.

Last month, Panza was hired as the senior vice president for racing operations at NYRA, effectively the No. 2 position behind Chris Kay, NYRA’s president and chief executive officer. Panza begins at NYRA on Nov. 25.