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
Equestrian Sport At The Heart Of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Agenda
Equestrian Sport At The Heart Of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Agenda
Equestrian Sport At The Heart Of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Agenda
Impact on tourism and infrastructure driven by sport’s growth, Asian Racing Conference delegates hear
Horse Racing Can Learn From Formula 1 In Engaging Younger Fans: ‘Instead Of Selling Facts, They’re Selling Emotions’
Horse Racing Can Learn From Formula 1 In Engaging Younger Fans: ‘Instead Of Selling Facts, They’re Selling Emotions’
Horse Racing Can Learn From Formula 1 In Engaging Younger Fans: ‘Instead Of Selling Facts, They’re Selling Emotions’
Storytelling was one of the key pillars on the opening day of the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh, with The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Executive Director of Sports Business, Mr Casper Stylsvig, outlining how horse racing can learn from Formula 1 as it strives to increase fan engagement across the globe.
Racing Leaders Urge Collaboration To Tell The Sport’s Story Better To New Audiences
Racing Leaders Urge Collaboration To Tell The Sport’s Story Better To New Audiences
Racing Leaders Urge Collaboration To Tell The Sport’s Story Better To New Audiences
Global horse racing must collaborate more effectively to tell its story better if it is to fend off increasing challenges from a narrowing customer base, the growth of illegal betting operators and increased competition from sports betting, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told the Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Re-election of ARF Chair and Vice-Chairs
Re-election of ARF Chair and Vice-Chairs
Re-election of ARF Chair and Vice-Chairs
The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Executive Council has unanimously re-elected Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges as Chair, and Mr. Masayuki Goto and Mr. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi as Vice-Chairs, at its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the eve of the 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC).
Riyadh Welcomes Equine World to 41st Asian Racing Conference
Riyadh Welcomes Equine World to 41st Asian Racing Conference
Riyadh Welcomes Equine World to 41st Asian Racing Conference
Asian Racing Federation’s showpiece highlights ‘Honouring Tradition, Shaping the Future’ theme
41st Asian Racing Conference Registrations Open
41st Asian Racing Conference Registrations Open
41st Asian Racing Conference Registrations Open
Early bird tickets released for the 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) held between February 9 – 14, 2026. Register and more information: www.arcriyadh2026.com
The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia are pleased to announce that the 41st Asian Racing Conference will be held on 9 - 14 February 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned for further details to be announced in due course.
41st Asian Racing Conference heads to Saudi Arabia in 2026
41st Asian Racing Conference heads to Saudi Arabia in 2026
41st Asian Racing Conference heads to Saudi Arabia in 2026
The 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2026 with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, in conjunction with the Asian Racing Federation (ARF), to stage the international conference in Riyadh.