Newby, Zimmerman promoted at Santa Anita; Merz returns from Maryland

ARCADIA, Calif. - Santa Anita announced on Saturday that marketing director Nate Newby has been promoted to senior vice president and assistant general manager and that longtime vice president Amy Zimmerman will have the new title of senior vice president and executive producer.

Newby has directed Santa Anita’s marketing department since 2013 and is expected to handle much of the day-to-day operation at Santa Anita. He takes over that role from Aidan Butler, who remains as acting executive director of California racing operations for The Stronach Group, the track’s parent company.

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Zimmerman has worked at Santa Anita since 1986 and has directed the track’s broadcast department. She has a lengthy background of working on award-winning racing programs for national racing programs and the Olympics.

As part of the statement, the track announced that Chris Merz has rejoined Santa Anita as director of racing, having spent the last 20 months as the racing secretary at the company’s Maryland’s tracks – Laurel and Pimlico.

Merz was previously stakes coordinator at Santa Anita. He will assist Steve Lym, Santa Anita’s vice president of racing, who has held the position since January 2019.

Merz, 29, began his current position on Feb. 22.