Santa Anita Park’s Amy Zimmerman has been chosen as one of 25 “Women of Influence” by The Thoroughbred Times, in the publication’s July 3, 2010 weekly issue.
Amy ZImmerman
Zimmerman, who serves as Santa Anita’s Vice President, Business Coordination and as Director of Broadcasting, was selected from a group of 100 candidates. She has worked at Santa Anita since 1986.
The Thoroughbred Times’ inaugural “Women of Influence,” profiles the most prominent women in American racing and recognizes women who occupy various roles from owners, breeders and trainers, to administrators and racing managers.
A graduate of the University of Southern California (Bachelor of Science in journalism and history) Zimmerman has long been one of the most highly respected executives in racing and is one of the few media members anywhere in the world who has been credentialed and has attended all 26 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, dating back to 1984.
Zimmerman works closely with Santa Anita President, George Haines.
“I have known Amy since she first came aboard here at Santa Anita 24 years ago,” said Haines. “I consider her to be one of the most intelligent and insightful people I have ever met, in or out of racing. Her advice and counsel is of tremendous benefit to us here at Santa Anita and she is an invaluable member of our executive team. This honor is richly deserved and we are very, very fortunate to have someone of her scope and stature in this industry.”
Underscoring her position as a nationally prominent racing executive is the fact that Zimmerman has been an integral part of more than a dozen Eclipse Award-winning television shows or features.
In her current position as executive producer and senior vice president of production and programming at Santa Anita-based HRTV, Zimmerman is involved with a myriad of televised Thoroughbred racing events as she also does work for NBC Sports and for ABC and ESPN.
“I was the little girl who didn’t grow up in racing, but fell in love with it over television,” Zimmerman said after learning she was selected for the “Women of Influence” feature story.
“I often hope when I produce shows that I am able to reach another little girl on the other side of the screen,” she added.
Zimmerman also produces other televised sporting events beyond racing, including the gymnastics portion of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. She has also been involved for many years producing shows featuring cross-country antique car rallies for ESPN and the History Channel
Despite her extensive broadcast experience and numerous accolades, Zimmerman remains humble and approaches her job with a refreshing degree of dedication and enthusiasm. She considers her biggest personal achievement continuing “to do what I love with people I care about while getting paid for it.”
Although the racing industry is currently experiencing declines in several areas, Zimmerman remains positive about its future—with one caveat: “The future is going to be secured only with the acceptance by all stakeholders—racetracks, owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, bettors, legislators, etc—that racing will not survive without all of them finally working together toward that goal.”