BY TAMMY A GANTT

More than 50 speakers addressed topics including historical horse racing, artificial intelligence, sports marketing strategies, and industry challenges and opportunities at the 50th Global Symposium on Racing held Dec. 9 – 11 in Tucson, Ariz.

Presented by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program under the guidance of chair and alum Robert Hartman, the event brought together more than 650 industry professionals from around the world.

To put the 50 years in perspective, when the program was founded, in 1974 it was the first of its type in the country, specific to racetrack management, both in the front office and behind-the-scenes with the development of the racing animal. It included Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse flat racing, harness trotters and pacers and Greyhound dog racing.

A half-century ago, tracks were outside of most populated areas, betting was exclusively at racetracks, and the advent of simulcasting had not come. Youth were not allowed at most racetracks and there was no Sunday racing in many states. Tribal casinos, racinos and expanded gaming were a new topic in 1993. Within a decade some of the first Thoroughbred retirement programs sprang up and the gaming landscape changed, ushered in by advance deposit wagering, VIP programs like the Twin Spires Club, and a beta version of historical horse racing debuting at the 2004 Breeders’ Cup at Lone Star Park. These were later followed by computer-assisted robotic wagering groups affiliated with rebate shops. Within the last five years, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, historical horse racing, expanded sports betting, artificial intelligence, social license to operate, and global sports marketing strategies joined the list.

What do all of these innovations have in common? They all had their moment as racing’s next great thing. It’s debatable if some did or did not help racing. But more importantly, at past symposiums, these were cutting-edge topics with new terminology and technology. The conference has also served as ‘Switzerland’ in the sense that the program is neutral on industry issues. There may be discourse in the industry, but the gathering serves as a reminder to come together, shake hands and put aside infighting.

Over the years, the topics have created conversation accelerated by robust networking opportunities with key leaders. Some conversations led to realistic expectations of how something could be implemented across racing states with their own unique structures, challenges, and ever-changing playing fields. Others became a catalyst for hashing out the pros and cons, at times being embraced by innovators willing to work to find a foothold in the marketplace. Other visionary ideas languished for years, were finally achieved with little fanfair, or shelved for good.

This is the stuff of the symposium where some of the greatest industry minds meet – the cynics, the innovators, the realists, the newbies, the dreamers, the visionary, and the media who tell the story, all wishing to be an integral part of the industry’s legacy. The 50th was no different as past became prologue once again.

The 2024 program’s keynote speaker Louis Cella was inspiring with his four-generation family history filled with achievements, reinvention, and innovations throughout the decades at Oaklawn Park. The track’s current president, he said the modern emphasis is on collaboration for the sport’s future, something the Hot Springs track knows a bit about thanks to partnering that has led to their historical horse racing revenue.

Twin Spires Club innovator and Horse Racing Nation founder, Mark Midland, showcased his team’s visionary research projects geared to provide new insights for the industry in ‘Artificial Intelligence: Transformative Applications for Advancing Horse Racing’. Panelists also explored how AI can enhance equine welfare and improve wagering experiences.

Talks with top trainers and an innovative ideas panel are popular annually, and in 2024 both talks packed the conference hall. In ‘Champions. Challenges. Commitment,’ Eclipse award-winning producer Amy Zimmerman discussed requirements for success in racing with trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher, both graduates of the RTIP program.

‘Fifty Ideas in 50 Minutes’ covered a myriad of practical ideas to out-of-the box thinking with racing executives Alex Dodyan and Dora Delgado (RTIP grad), sales company exec Liza Hendriks, award-winning journalist Jay Hovdey, and racing/gaming consultant Dick Powell. Visit FTBOA.com for the list of 50 ideas.

HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus gave an update on Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority 2024 efforts and future goals, along with a progress report provided by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.

A wide range of subjects, including international racing perspectives, sports marketing strategies, biosecurity for racetracks, and the future of retired racehorses were also covered. The full program agenda, speakers and video summaries of the presentations are available at https://rtip.arizona.edu/symposium/2024-symposium.

The 50th anniversary also meant an influx of RTIP alumni, which includes a long list of celebrated industry leading professionals in the media and behind-the-scenes.

“I would like to thank the 100 alumni who returned to Tucson. They came back to support us this year. Some are folks that you know like Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert and 98 names you may not know. They are 98 names that may not have their name up in lights but support this industry behind-the-scenes,” Hartman said.

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association CEO Lonny Powell, a former chair and alum of the program, has long served on the advisory board for the program and symposium, among other leaders, who work to ensure a diverse range of topics bringing perspective and future trends. Brock Sheridan, editor-in-chief of Florida Equine Communications serves on the student alumni board and was former president and Tammy A. Gantt Association AVP is also a former graduate.

 

Race Track Industry Program’s Florida Influence

Robert Hartman

“We all do this for the passion of the horse and with a passion for racing. When I think of Florida alums — I think Lonny Powell. Lonny is such a great advocate of our program. I feel that Lonny surrounds himself with RTIP alums. He knows the value of the program, he is an alum and a beacon for the program in the State of Florida.
We have folks at Tampa Bay Downs. We have folks at Gulfstream. The RTIP program has amazing representation in Florida. We send students there for internships and it has really been a great state.”
– Robert Hartman,
RTIP chair