Najja Thompson named executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders

Najja Thompson, a marketing and communications employee of the New York Racing Association for the past nine years, has been hired to head up the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., the non-profit organization announced on Tuesday.

Thompson, whose most recent position with NYRA involved recruiting new employees, will fill a post recently vacated by Jeffrey Cannizzo, the executive director of NYTB for 13 years prior to his resignation in October to take a position with NYRA as its senior director of government affairs.

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NYTB’s executive director is required to be in frequent contact with the state legislature to represent the interests of the state’s breeding industry, which receives bonuses from several state programs and from state-mandated casino subsidies. The non-profit also organizes communications efforts to members of its organization.

A graduate of Florida State University, Thompson was introduced to racing by an uncle who was a breeder, according to NYTB. He will begin his job on Dec. 14, NYTB said.

“I am excited to step into this role with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” Thompson said, in a release from the organization. “It’s a privilege to work on behalf of the horsemen and horsewomen in the Thoroughbred industry.”