Meet the Board!
Brian Moore - Board President
Brian Moore has been with Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program for four years and was instrumental in procuring major donor funding which made the "Purple Haze Center" a reality. Brian is the Director of Marketing for Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, the home of the Purple Haze Center, and has been with the racino since 2005. As the President of FLTAP, Brian is excited to work with the organization's staff and fellow board members to promote Thoroughbred adoption at Finger Lakes Racetrack.
Brian is a graduate of The Rochester Institute of Technology and currently resides in Rochester. When not promoting Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and helping FLTAP, he can be found sailing on Lake Ontario.
Brian can be reached at bmoore@dncinc.com or 585-742-7315.
Wanda Polisseni - Vice President
Born and raised on a farm in Yates County and graduated from State University of Delhi where her family boarded Standardbred horses, Wanda married and had four children, three living. In 1977 her husband, Gene, and family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to open Paychex, Inc. Since retiring from Paychex, she has devoted her time to racing, both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, and to many charitable organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She serves on several boards including Rochester General Hospital, Thompson Health Foundation, New York State Troopers Foundations, MCMEC, Crisis Nursery, The Polisseni Foundation, Finger Lakes HBPA, as well as FLTAP.
"I have loved horses and ridden since I was a little girl. My greatest wish is that no horse has to face the perils of slaughter and I hope through all of our efforts we can achieve this."
Patrick Placito
Patrick Placito is the Director of Racing and Simulcasting at the Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack. He is originally from Canandaigua, New York. He has an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York and is also an MBA graduate. He has approximately twenty years of experience in the thoroughbred racing industry. His thoroughbred racing career began in the New England circuit at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park. Some of the positions he held within the racing industry include but are not limited to Racing Official, Assistant Racing Secretary, Assistant Mutual Manager, Money Room Manager, Main Banker, Simulcast Coordinator, and Stakes Director.
Beverly Tartaglia
Beverly Tartaglia is currently Event Coordinator at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and has been on the FLTAP Board since 2007, serving as Board Secretary from 2007 to 2009. Beverly and FLTAP Marketing Department Board Members are instrumental in executing fundraising initiatives, securing endowments, and coordinating 'The Purple Haze Path' and the annual 'Winners Round-Up' Dinner and Auction.
A former Livingston County Morgan Horse Farm owner, Beverly now resides in Mendon, New York. She lends her fundraising experience to several charitable groups, and recruits/organizes a team of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack sponsored 'Polar Bears' in the Special Olympics Annual Fundraiser 'Polar Bear Plunge', which is held at Charlotte Beach, Lake Ontario.
"My work at FLTAP is a labor of love. I value all animals, horses especially, and wish that every racehorse has a second chance to lead a safe, productive, and happy equine life."
Francie Andolino- Secretary
Francie Andolino is a Marketing Promotion Specialist of Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack and has been part of the Marketing Department since the opening of the gaming facility in February of 2004. She has been active in planning every FLTAP Annual Dinner and Auction since 2004 and is continually looking for fundraising opportunities. Her love and respect for horses started at a young age with horseback riding lessons.
"It has been a proud and rewarding experience to be a part of this great program."
Richard J. Cutri
A native of Canandaigua, NY, he graduated from the University of Rochester MBA in 1976 and retired from Xerox Corporation in December of 2003.
He serves on the boards of HBPA and FLTAP as well as Granger Homestead, Saint Joseph's Villa, F.F. Thompson Hospital, and the advisory committee of the Canandaigua YMCA.
"I have been associated with horse racing for over 30 years. As an owner, my concern has always been with the welfare of the horses both on the track and after they retire from their racing career."
Mike LeCesse
Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Mike LeCesse is a father of two. He has trained racehorses for 25 years at Finger Lakes Racetrack. He has had many stakes horses including but not limited to: Missionary Monk, Sinbad the Sailor, As Wicked, Fly To Me, and Tin Cup Chalice who was the first and only New York Triple Winner. He has been an active member of HBPA for 12 years. He currently trains at Finger Lakes Racetrack and manages and owns R & R Farms. Mike recently jointed FLTAP Board to help take an active role in helping former racehorses find homes after retiring.
Chris Riegle
Mr. Riegle graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener Canada with a bachelor degree in Business Administration. He oversees all aspects of the gaming and racing operations of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack. He started his pari-mutuel career with Sportsystems, the pari-mutuel and gaming division of Delaware North Companies in 1987. While working at Delaware North Companies, he rose through various positions until 1992 when he accepted the position of Controller at Finger Lakes Racetrack. Riegle was promoted to President and General Manager in 1998. Executive member of the New York Coalition to Promote and Preserve Racing that was the driving force responsible for the enabling legislation that allowed the introduction of VGM's in New York. He lead the team that was responsible for the re-emergence of the Finger Lakes property as a first class entertainment venue with the opening of the second video gaming facility in the State of New York in 2004. He designed and constructed Finger Lakes recent $4.3 million property expansion and he designed and implemented the first video gaming machine expansion in New York in 2006.
Phil Palermo
Phil Palermo is Senior Director of Operations for Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack and a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology majoring in Business Administration. Phil has been with Finger Lakes for three years and was added to the board of FLTAP in May 2009.
He oversees the operations of Finger Lakes racing and Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP). Phil works closely with our program manager and our facilities manager and is committed to maintaining smooth operations and enhancing the success of the adoption center program.