Borgemenke leaves House for horse racing job

Cincinnati native Scott Borgemenke is resigning Friday as chief of staff to House Speaker Jon Husted, it was announced today, to take a job with Magna Entertainment Corp.

Borgemenke, 42, served as chief of staff since January 2005. He starts his new job as Magna Entertainment's vice president for racing on Jan. 28.

"Scott has given more than I can ask in service to the House and I want to thank him and his family for the sacrifices they have made to make Ohio a better place," Husted said.

Beginning in 1991, Borgemenke served former Senate President Stanley J. Aronoff as finance director and chief of staff.

He was named executive director of the Cincinnati Business Committee in 1996.

In 1999, Borgemenke returned to state service as chief policy adviser and director of cabinet affairs during former Gov. Bob Taft’s initial year in office. The following year, he launched Strategic Policy Advisors, a public affairs, government relations and campaign consulting firm he owned and managed prior to becoming House chief of staff.

Borgemenke, who served as chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission from 2002 to 2004, will oversee racing operations for North America’s number one owner and operator of horse racetracks.

Magna Entertainment, based in Toronto, operates 10 racetracks including Thistledown near Cleveland. The company also owns and operates three thoroughbred training centers and production facilities in Austria and North Carolina.

"If I were to name two of my greatest interests – public policy being one – horse racing is clearly the second," said Borgemenke, whose late father, Ralph, was a jockey with a career highlighted by a 9th-place finish aboard King O’ Swords in the 1956 Kentucky Derby.

"I have been fortunate to build a career helping to shape public policy and working to enhance the leadership capabilities of both legislators and staff. I’m looking forward to putting this experience to work in an industry that has a far-reaching impact in our communities – from agriculture to entertainment – but is often undervalued or misunderstood."