By Equine MediRecord
Our Chief Executive Officer, Pierce Dargan, was in Tucson for the The University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing.
The University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) hosted the 48th annual Symposium on Racing. Over 550 industry executives from around the world attended this year’s Symposium to discuss issues and opportunities in horse racing. The Symposium kicked off with a energizing keynote address from Mike Mulvihill, Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy and Analytics for FOX Sports. Mike’s description of horse racing as “a poem, a puzzle and a party” and calling for racing participants to “tell people what makes (racing) great and never stop telling them, and you will grow this game.”
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) two programs – the Racetrack Safety Program and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program were a key focus with presentations by HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, and the leaders of each of the two Programs. A host of other topics were also discussed including Advancing Equine Safety through Technology, Life After the Track – Second Careers & Retirement, Integrating Horse Racing into the US Sports Betting Environment, Expanding Racing’s Reach: Strategies for Diversity and Inclusion, Illegal Betting’s Threat to the Racing Industry and Horseplayer Roundtable: What Does the Core Customer Really Want?
The Storytellers of the Game – Racing’s Legendary Announcers panel featured Dave Johnson and Tom Durkin kept the audience laughing. Moderated by RTIP alum Pete Aiello, the two announcing legends recounted stories from working their way up at minor league tracks to the thrill of calling the Triple Crown. They recounted their stories in a way that only the great storytellers can.
You can find out more on The University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing on their website here.
