Hired: by Penn National, Philadelphia native Dan Silver as director of racing operations. Silver, 32, was the director of communications and media relations for the New York Racing Association. Silver has an undergraduate degree from Haverford College, along with graduate degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. He began the new post, which includes managing the racing and pari-mutuel operations at Penn National Race Course, including its four off-track wagering facilities and account wagering operation, Oct. 22.
Received: by North Carolina student Ben Weinrib, the 54th Fred Russell-Grantland Rice TRA Scholarship to Vanderbilt University. The four-year scholarship is presented by the Maryland-based Thoroughbred Racing Associations and Vanderbilt to an outstanding high school senior with special interest and potential in the field of sports writing. Weinrib, a graduate of Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., was selected along with Adam Birnbaum (of Florida) and Nathaniel Heagney (Missouri) from a near record 179 applicants for this year’s scholarship in the amount of $20,000 per year for four years each at Vanderbilt. Named in honor of two legendary sports writing alumni of Vanderbilt, the scholarship has an extraordinary record of producing prominent and successful writers and television personalities, including Roy Blount Jr., Bill Livingston, Skip Bayless, John (Joe Bob Briggs) Bloom, David Sheinin, Tyler Kepner, Lee Jenkins and Daniel Wolken.
Reached: 10th place on the all-time list for North American jockeys with his 6,471st win, region-based jockey Mario Pino. The veteran rode Incredibly Smart to victory at Presque Isle Downs Sept. 18 for trainer Jeff Thornbury. Pino, whose career started in 1977, has long been a regular in Maryland, Delaware Park and other Mid-Atlantic tracks. In addition, this month Pino will be inducted to the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.
Received: State breeder of the year awards from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman (Maryland), Christine Connelly (New Jersey), Hubert Vester’s Hawk Crest Manor (North Carolina), Henry Carroll (South Carolina), the estate of Edward P. Evans (Virginia) and Jeff and Susan Runco (West Virginia).
