A RACE FOR JOBS
Large crowd turns out for NYRA job fair
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Linda Zimmer has two simple requirements for people seeking a job at Saratoga Race Course this summer.
“We’re looking for people with a wonderful smile who are willing to stand all day,” she said.
Those are prerequisites for anyone hoping to be a track white cap, the ushers who direct people to their boxes and provide whatever helpful assistance they can.
Zimmer interviewed dozens of applicants who turned out Friday for a New York Racing Association-hosted Job Fair, which continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Embassy Suites, 86 Congress St. in Saratoga Springs.
The 40-day meet opens July 20 and runs through Sept. 3.
“We’re thrilled to be able to contribute nearly $240 million to the Capital Region economy,” said Patrick McKenna, NYRA spokesman. “A big portion of that is the 2,500 positions we fill each and every summer.”
Most people work directly for NYRA in jobs ranging from guest services to maintenance, part-time security guards and betting clerks. People may also apply for Bets Squad, an initiative NYRA started last year that seeks to educate experienced and new horse players about how to wager, read a racing form, and make evaluations based on the numbers they read. The goal is teaching fans how to become horse players.
Retired teacher Joseph DeMaios, of Albany, said it was his first time seeking a summer track job.
“It’s a new experience for me,” he said. “It’s a way to supplement my income.”
Jonathan Anacreon, 29, of Schenectady, said, “A couple of friends told me it’s a good place to work. It’s fun.”
Several other firms with track openings — Centerplate, Integrated Staffing, American Maintenance and Union Square Events — are at the Job Fair, too.
American Maintenance,
which handles cleaning duties, is looking for anyone with janitorial experience and flexibility. School custodians looking for summer employment make good candidates, spokesperson Amy Marotta said.
Union Square operates track venues such as Shake Shack, Box Frites and The Post at Saratoga Race Course.
Pay ranges from $13-$40 per hour, with even more for heavily-tipped jobs, spokesman Jon Kaplan said.
“We always do very well with hiring top-notch talent,” he said. “We have people who come up from St. Lucia, St. Croix and Florida. They bartend for the summer and go back. They’ve been coming here forever.”
As always, the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes is the meet’s highlight, especially this year as fans wait to see if trainer Bob Baffert will enter Triple Crown winner Justify in the race.
“I’m super-excited about it,” Kaplan said. “I’m convinced he’s going to be here. We remember back to American Pharoah in 2015. That was certainly a good year for us.”
The 149th running of the Travers is set for Saturday, Aug. 25.
But Justify has already had an intense 2018 schedule, running six races in 112 days after not racing as a 2-year-old last year.
“We certainly hope to see Justify enter the starting gate,” McKenna said. “That’s because we want our fans, especially up here throughout the Capital Region, to witness history, to see a Triple Crown champion here in Saratoga once again. It all leads to an increase in anticipation as we approach the summer meet.”