Conference Information
Sessions
Session 1
The Evolving Global Racing and Sporting Landscape
Speakers
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges
Chair, Asian Racing Federation
CEO, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Masayuki Goto
Vice-Chair, Asian Racing Federation
Executive Advisor, Japan Racing Association
HE Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi
Vice-Chair, Asian Racing Federation
Director-General, Emirates Racing Authority
Ziyad bin Saad Al-Muqrin
CEO, Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
Felicity Barnard
Chief Executive Officer, Ascot Racecourse
Kylie Rogers
Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Racing Club
Session 2
Fan Engagement: Global Broadcasting and Viewership
Speakers
Rawan AlButairi
CEO, Saudi Esports Federation
Justin McDonald
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Breeders’ Cup Limited
Casper Stylsvig
Executive Director, Sports Business, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Saudi Vision 2030
Giga-Projects and Transformative Role Of Equestrianism and Sports
Speakers
Tim Hadaway
Equestrian Development Executive Director, Sports Sector, AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Marc Hewett
Executive Director, Head of Racecourse, Qiddiya Investment Company
Tony Matthews
Chief Delivery Officer, Sports Boulevard Foundation
Tony Partridge
Executive Director, Sports and Wellness, Diriyah Company
Session 3
Marketing: Major Racing Carnivals
Speakers
Andrew Harding
Secretary General, Asian Racing Federation
Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
HE Ali Abdulrahman Al Ali
Board Member & CEO, Dubai Racing Club
Mohamed Al Ahmed
General Manager, Jebel Ali Racecourse
HRH Princess Nourah Al-Faisal
Designer, Entrepreneur and Industry Leader
Felicity Barnard
Chief Executive Officer, Ascot Racecourse
William C Carstanjen
Chief Executive Officer, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Kylie Rogers
Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Racing Club
Session 4
Racing: AI, Big Data And Virtual Reality
Speakers
Todd Harple
Director of Innovation and Strategy, Stanford Sports Equity Lab
Founder, Red Table Solutions
Danilo McGarry
Entrepreneur, Ai Expert, Global Board Advisor, Podcaster
Stephen Smith
Founder, Kitman Labs
Session 5
Transforming Customer Behaviours
Speakers
William C. Carstanjen
Chief Executive Officer, Churchill Downs Incorporated
Terecina Kwong
Executive Director, Membership and Customer Excellence, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Gillon McLachlan
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tabcorp
Session 6
The Gulf Horseracing Council and Its Influence in the Region and Globally
Speakers
HE Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi
Vice-Chair, Asian Racing Federation
Director-General, Emirates Racing Authority
Rashid Adiba
Racing Operations Manager, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club
Salem Binmahfooz
Chairman Advisor and Technical Committee Member, Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia
Edward Veale
Director of Racing & International Relations, Bahrain Turf Club
Session 7
Integrity
Speakers
Aja Hall
Co-Director of Integrity, Regulation and Safeguarding, British Horseracing Authority
Kim Kelly
Chair, IFHA International Harmonisation of Racing Rules Committee
Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission
Douglas Robinson
Director, IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime
Executive Manager, International Illegal Betting Research and Liaison, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Louis Weston
Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
Jack Zuber
Senior Manager, Racing Integrity and Betting Analysis, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Session 8
Equine Welfare
Speakers
Abdullah Alaseeri
Secretary General, Saudi Equestrian Authority
Eliot Forbes
Chief Executive, Racing Integrity Board of New Zealand
Chair, International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses
Lisa Lazarus
Chief Executive Officer, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
Celia Marr
Associate Veterinary Specialist, Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre
Chris Riggs
Director, Equine Welfare Research Foundation and Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Session 9
The Future Sustainability of Racing and Breeding
Speakers
Andrew Harding
Secretary General, Asian Racing Federation
Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Abdulkarim al Adhayani
Owner, Sama Farm, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Kate Galvin
Nomination Sales and Operating Manager, Jonabell Farm, Godolphin USA
Andrew Hore-Lacy
Chief Executive Officer, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse
Jayne McGivern
Chief Executive Officer, Sports Boulevard Foundation
Annise Montplaisir
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Amplify Horse Racing
Philip Newton
Chair, Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
Stu Rowson
CEO, Lucky Socks Media
Yukio Shimokobe
CEO, Thoroughbred Breeders Club, Co. Ltd
Chair, Hakodate Racehorse Owners Association
Press Room
Spectacular Ending And Mandate For Change, As Asian Racing Conference Wraps Up
Spectacular Ending And Mandate For Change, As Asian Racing Conference Wraps Up
Spectacular Ending And Mandate For Change, As Asian Racing Conference Wraps Up
A week of insight, thought leadership and discussion about the future of horse racing concluded with a call for global collaboration before a spectacular laser show at the Closing Ceremony of the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh.
Breeding Industry Fundamentally Strong But Welfare-Focused Approach Needed
Breeding Industry Fundamentally Strong But Welfare-Focused Approach Needed
Breeding Industry Fundamentally Strong But Welfare-Focused Approach Needed
Breeders from across the globe painted a mixed picture about the health of the breeding sector, but were aligned on the need for a coordinated approach, with welfare at its heart, to ensure strong yearling sales and production of foals leads to a vibrant racing programme and a sustainable sport, the 41st Asian Racing Conference heard on Thursday.
Experts Call For Unified Approach To Further Improve Equine Welfare Practices
Experts Call For Unified Approach To Further Improve Equine Welfare Practices
Experts Call For Unified Approach To Further Improve Equine Welfare Practices
Horse welfare potentially presents an existential threat to the global racing industry but a unified, coherent approach from jurisdictions globally will ensure the sport can enjoy a sustainable future, the Asian Racing Conference heard on Thursday.
Key Integrity Issues Under The Spotlight At 41st Asian Racing Conference
Key Integrity Issues Under The Spotlight At 41st Asian Racing Conference
Key Integrity Issues Under The Spotlight At 41st Asian Racing Conference
During Wednesday’s final session, titled ‘Integrity’, at the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh, Mr Kim Kelly, Chair, IFHA International Harmonisation of Racing Rules Committee and Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, declared that “racing is in a very good space”, while adding “the biggest threat to the integrity of horse racing is illegal and unregulated betting markets”, with the anonymity provided by crypto-driven illegal betting creating constant headaches for regulators.
Gulf Horseracing Council Paving The Way For Region To Become Global Power
Gulf Horseracing Council Paving The Way For Region To Become Global Power
Gulf Horseracing Council Paving The Way For Region To Become Global Power
The Gulf Horseracing Council (GHC) has made great strides in bringing alignment and cooperation across jurisdictions in the region in its first year of work, and an inspiring future lies ahead if the collaboration and focus continue, the 41st Asian Racing Conference heard in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The Route To Long-Term, Engaged Racing Customers Is Through Experiences
The Route To Long-Term, Engaged Racing Customers Is Through Experiences
The Route To Long-Term, Engaged Racing Customers Is Through Experiences
The key to driving long-term engagement with horse racing in an increasingly competitive attention economy is to provide fans with unforgettable raceday experiences which are backed up by compelling digital assets and strong storytelling, the 41st Asian Racing Conference heard in Riyadh.
Expert Warns Racing Leaders Of The Importance Of Properly Adopting Ai In The Next “Two To Four Years”
Expert Warns Racing Leaders Of The Importance Of Properly Adopting Ai In The Next “Two To Four Years”
Expert Warns Racing Leaders Of The Importance Of Properly Adopting Ai In The Next “Two To Four Years”
Global artificial intelligence (AI) expert Mr Danilo McGarry has warned racing leaders at the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh of the importance of ensuring their organisations become ‘AI-first’ in the next “two to four years”.
World’s Biggest Racing Carnivals “Shone Brilliantly” In 2025 As Leaders Continue To Innovate
World’s Biggest Racing Carnivals “Shone Brilliantly” In 2025 As Leaders Continue To Innovate
World’s Biggest Racing Carnivals “Shone Brilliantly” In 2025 As Leaders Continue To Innovate
The unprecedented health of major racing carnivals around the world was the focus of session three on day one of the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, with industry leaders sharing their secrets to success.