NEWS
Aaron Vercruysse
Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 5:31 PM
AARON VERCRUYSSE
Benoit & Associates photo
Santa Anita Park, HorseRacing TV
Before the birth of his son, Aaron Vercruysse was content to live day to day with a devil-may-care attitude, but being responsible for another person (and later two children) provided the impetus for the Idaho native to trade one job for another.
“I was making tons of money and had a killer job [as a bartender], but I knew I needed a career,” Vercruysse said. “If I’m going to be doing something the rest of my life, then I knew I needed to do something I loved.”
Vercruysse enrolled in the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program as an undergraduate and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2002. He joined the Magna Entertainment Corp. family as simulcast coordinator at Santa Anita Park that year and has remained in Southern California since, now serving as vice president of racing and wagering for the track as well as an on-air personality on HorseRacing TV.
Like many in his peer group, Vercruysse is bullish on the future of racing and views the pessimism surrounding it from some camps as a call to arms.
“When I hear people pessimistic about racing, that actually excites me,” he said. “It forces the industry to do something about it. If enough people get their backs up against the wall, then they start pushing back.
“The bad economy will be the best thing to happen to racing. It has made us look more closely at our business, how it is run, and only then can we make it better.”
By the time Vercruysse calls it a career, he hopes to be known as a racing person who helped the industry move forward.
Date of birth: September 27, 1973
Birthplace: Boise, Idaho
Residence: Sierra Madre, California
Title: Vice president of racing and wagering; host and analyst
Company: Santa Anita Park, HorseRacing Television
Education: Bachelor of Science, University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program
Family: Two children
Career: Joined Santa Anita Park in 2002 as simulcast coordinator; promoted to director of simulcasting for all of Magna Entertainment Corp. in ’06 and helped develop the Magna 5 wager; entered current role as vice president of racing and wagering in ’08 and has been with HRTV since ’04; was on board of directors of now-defunct TrackNet Media
Favorite horse: Zenyatta
What book are you currently reading: The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
Last movie you saw at the theater: Shrek: The Final Chapter
What’s on your iPod? Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band
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READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Richard, Redlands, CA on April 24, 2011 at 09:09 PM
He is an interesting character unlike Hoover who has boared me for many years with his lack of skill.
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Posted by: Lynda, Bath Ohio, OH on September 03, 2010 at 02:27 PM
He is the best on either TVG or HRTV - love when he is on!!!
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Posted by: Chris , Speck, CA on June 24, 2010 at 05:59 PM
I think he is the best!
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