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Thomas Knust has been named racing secretary for the live racing meet held during the annual L.A. County Fair in September, announced Los Angeles County Fair Association Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mike Seder.
Knust has 35 years experience in the thoroughbred racing industry, most recently as a jockey agent for such racing luminaries as Kent Desormeaux, Jose Valdivia Jr., John Court, Corey Nakatani, Patrick Valenzuela and Clinton Potts. He has been racing secretary at Santa Anita, Oak Tree, Del Mar, Canterbury Downs and numerous fair meetings in California. He has also held positions of placing judge, patrol judge and clerk at Santa Anita Race Track and served as stable superintendent at both Santa Anita and Del Mar Race Tracks.
Among Knust’s responsibilities are developing the stakes and overnights race program for Fairplex Park, recruiting horses before and during the race meet, and supervising racing office staff. Knust resides in Glendora with his wife, Penny.
Fairplex Park will celebrate its 71st year of horse racing at the L.A. County Fair. Called the biggest little track in America, Fairplex Park was the first track in Southern California to present pari-mutuel wagering when it was legalized in California in 1933. The meeting has attracted 13,636,971 fans and produced a handle of $2,530,340,551 since 1933. It remains one of the only venues that welcome guests to the Fair with the opportunity to view the exciting sport of horse racing. Fairplex Park is also the site of training of thoroughbreds year-round and an inter-track wagering facility for major tracks throughout North America. Fairplex Park ranks among the top 10 percent of all North American racetracks in average daily handle. The historic five-eighths mile track boasts a surface mixture of clay, sand and bark.
The 2009 L.A. County Fair horse racing meet is Sept. 10 to Sept. 28, dark Tuesdays. The 16-day meeting will open Thursday, Sept. 10 and be closed the first Monday, Sept. 14, and subsequent Tuesdays. For Fair and racing information visit www.lacountyfair.com.
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