Frank Gabriel, the senior vice president of racing operations at the New York Racing Association since early 2022, has resigned, effective Feb. 18, NYRA said. He will be succeeded by Andrew Offerman, who is currently NYRA’s vice president and general manager of operations. Gabriel was named the senior VP of racing operations three months after the resignation of Martin Panza, a longtime racing official at NYRA. Gabriel had previously been the director of racing at NYRA from 1998 to 1999, and he also served as the racing secretary at NYRA’s Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course in 2014. Gabriel took on his duties at NYRA at a time of transition for NYRA and the racing industry overall. During his tenure, Gabriel led efforts to comply with new rules promulgated and enforced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, and he oversaw other efforts to improve safety measures for horses, NYRA said. Also during that time frame, NYRA won approval from the state legislature for a loan that will result in the complete rebuilding of Belmont Park, where NYRA’s downstate racing will be consolidated after the project is complete. Pre-construction has disrupted racing and training schedules at NYRA’s tracks for the past two years. “On behalf of NYRA and the broader racing community in New York, I thank Frank Gabriel for his many contributions to NYRA and to Thoroughbred racing,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA’s president and chief executive officer, in a release. “Because of Frank’s hard work during a period of great transition, NYRA continues to be defined by its premier racing product and organizational commitment to safety and integrity.” :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Gabriel was chief executive officer of Dubai Racing Club from 2005 to 2014 and oversaw the construction and opening of Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. From 2014 until 2020, he was the executive director of racing for Dubai Racing Club. Prior to his overseas roles in Dubai, he was the vice president of racing operations at Arlington Park outside Chicago for 16 years, preceded by racing management jobs at numerous other tracks. Offerman joined NYRA in 2022, overseeing all of the front-side operations of Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Prior to NYRA, he was the senior vice president of racing operations at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. While at Canterbury, he was responsible for oversight of the track’s racing office and its wagering, track maintenance, security, and other operational departments. He joined the track in 2010 and was elevated to the top position in 2017. “Andrew Offerman has quickly established himself at NYRA as a leader, strategic thinker and highly effective operator,” said O’Rourke. “This combination of skills and talent will benefit New York’s horsemen and NYRA as we plan for the new Belmont Park and the consolidation of all downstate racing at one world-class venue on Long Island.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.