John Matarazzo |
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John Matarazzo |
BiographyJohn Matarazzo's career in the racing industry started when he took a summer job at Saratoga Harness Track in 1978 working as mutuel clerk for OTB. Soon after that he moved into a management role for OTB, spearheading its expansion from a one-branch, one-county operation to a 55-branch, 16-county operation in Upstate New York. While at OTB he also directed the company’s marketing efforts and new business development. Included in his accomplishments was the development of the first Teletheater in New York, a full-service entertainment complex designed to expand racing’s customer base. The Teletheater featured racing, live entertainment, a bowling alley, indoor golf, arcade games, and the television broadcasts of college and professional sports. He returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel, this time as an employee of the track, first opening the Casino Gaming floor in 2004 and eventually pursuing his first love of racing, taking over as the Director of Racing Operations, a job he still holds today. Rich in history, Saratoga is in its 77th year of harness racing and currently runs programs from March through December. Along with overseeing Saratoga’s expansion of its simulcast signal into wagering outlets throughout North America and Europe, Matarazzo wrote and implemented the business plan for SaratogaBets, the company’s extremely successful interactive wagering platform. This platform became the model used for Yonkers and Batavia racetracks’ internet platforms who both partner with Saratoga today. Matarazzo is a current member of the New York Gaming Association’s Harness Committee and a former member of the HTA’s Executive and Finance committees. He lives with his wife Evelyn in Greenville, N.Y. He has one child, Carly, who is a school teacher in Boston, Mass. His pastimes include golf and music. CONTACT INFORMATION: 342 Jefferson Street Saratoga, NY 12866 Phone: 518-581-5748 [Email] TERM EXPIRES: 2026 (Track Director) |
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