Saturday, November 20, 2010
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STEVE SCHWARTZ, FORMER NYRA MEDIA RELATIONS DIRECTOR, PASSES AWAY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Steve Schwartz, who spent more than a decade working in the communications department of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), died Saturday morning at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, N.J. following complications from surgery.
Schwartz, 64 at the time of his passing, joined NYRA in 1979 as assistant manager of sports publicity and was promoted to director of media relations in 1983, a role he held until 1991, when he left to become media director at The Racing Times. He also served as executive assistant to the president at NYRA.
After working with The Racing Times, Schwartz joined the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority’s (NJSEA)
“I had the great pleasure of working with Steve while he was at the NJSEA. He was universally liked and appreciated for his knowledge and love of the thoroughbred game,” said NYRA Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer Hal Handel. “Everyone at NYRA who was fortunate enough to know him mourns his passing and extends our sincere condolences to his family.”
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His official racing career began at American Turf Monthly and as an editor for Sports Action, where he made national thoroughbred selections. Later, Schwartz became the handicapper for the Philadelphia Journal. He listed his handicapping claim to fame as picking the exact order of finish from first to last for Spectacular Bid’s 1979 Preakness win.
President of the Turf Publicists of America from 1988-1990, he was an honorary lifetime member of that organization.
Schwartz is survived by his son Eric and daughter Megan. No immediate arrangements are planned.
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