More than 300 representatives from over 27 countries will converge on New York City this week for the two days of business presentations focusing on the sport of Thoroughbred racing as part of the Pan American Conference.
The conference, co-hosted by The Jockey Club, the breed registry for Thoroughbreds in North America, and the Latin American Racing Channel (LARC), begins Wednesday, June 3, with a welcome dinner at the United Nations and concludes Saturday, June 6, with the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes, where American Pharoah will attempt to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.
The conference will kick off with an address from Christopher Kay, president and chief executive officer of the New York Racing Association.
All business presentations will be held on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The lineup of speakers includes David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency; Louis Romanet, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities; David J. Stern, commissioner emeritus of the National Basketball Association; and Frank Stronach, founder and honorary chairman of The Stronach Group.
“Thoroughbred racing is a global sport and we can all benefit by hearing and seeing what racing officials in other parts of the world are doing to grow the sport,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “Beyond the diverse lineup of speakers from Thoroughbred racing and other sports entities, our attendees will also have the opportunity on Saturday afternoon to watch American Pharoah’s attempt to become the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner.”
“The Pan Am Conference will not only showcase South America’s Thoroughbred breeding and racing, but it will also update the rest of the racing world about our successful and ongoing efforts to harmonize our rules with our international jurisdictions,” said Horacio Esposito, president of LARC.
The conference will focus on many key international areas across the two days of the business program, including:
- Globalization of Thoroughbred breeding and the Importance of the North American and South American Regions
- The Pattern System
- Delivering International Racing and Content to Bettors and Fans
- New Technologies in Racing and Sports
- Enhancing the Racing Customer Experience
- Global Measures to Racing Integrity
- Reforming Medication Rules: Approaches in South America
Presenting sponsors of the conference include LARC, The Jockey Club (through its commercial subsidiaries and partnerships America’s Best Racing, Equibase Company, InCompass Solutions, The Jockey Club Information Systems, and The Jockey Club Technology Services), Totepool, Club Hipico Santiago, Hipodromo Chile, Jockey Club del Peru, Jockey Club Brasiliero, Keeneland Association, Samuel and Guillermo Liberman, Maroñas Entertainment, The New York Racing Association Inc., PMU, Sport Mediastream, The Stronach Group, UTTA (Unión de Trabajadores del Turf y Afines), and Valparaiso Sporting Club.
On-site sponsors of the conference include Amtote International, Breeders’ Cup Limited, Daily Racing Form, Encompass Digital Media, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Horse Races NOW, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, Longitude, Roberts Communications Network, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, Woodbine Entertainment Group, and Yonkers Raceway.
Exhibitors and lounge sponsors at the conference include CHRIMS Inc., Coolmore America (Ashford Stud), Carrus – The Parimutuel Company, Keeneland Association, LARC Track Maintenance, New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., NTRA Advantage, The Jockey Club, and Sportech PLC.