AMERICAN RACEHORSE STALLION REGISTER
The 2018 American Racehorse Stallion Register is set to mail around the first week of December and the online version should be available before the end of November.
RETAMA PARK 2017-2018 TRAINING CENTER
It has been announced that Retama Park will serve as a training center beginning December 1, 2017 through July 1, 2018.
Track hours will begin Monday, November 13 with the starting gate available beginning Tuesday, November 21st. Contact the racing office for details.
2018 RETAMA PARK SEASON PASSES
2018 season passes are here! Season pass holders gain free entrance into the park and 10% off of all food and non alcoholic beverages. Starting Nov. 10, season passes will be sold for $80 out of Trifecta Express concession on the Grandstand level.
44TH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON RACING SET FOR DECEMBER 4 – 6
The Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) has gained worldwide recognition for its annual Global Symposium on Racing held in Tucson, Arizona each December since 1974. The Symposium attracts attendees representing Thoroughbred, Standardbred, American Quarter Horse, Greyhound, and Racino interests from across the United States and internationally. Topics presented during the Symposium include issues and trends of importance to the pari-mutuel industry such as international simulcasting, account wagering, marketing, track surfaces, track operations, new technologies and regulation.
Conference topics include:
Is it Possible to “Do More With Less” When it Comes to Race Horses?
With the Thoroughbred foal crop suffering year after year declines in numbers, is holding steady with the previous year’s number considered a “win” in this day and age? Just how much is the shrinking number of horses affecting the racing product? Fewer racing opportunities, smaller field size and stagnant wagering doesn’t help the horsemen or the tracks. Panelists examine where we are now, project what the future may look like, and discusses solutions to keep racing viable.
Handle Stagnation: How to Move the Needle Upward
There are more opportunities and methods available than ever before to wager on horse racing – on-track, through OTBs, and online through national ADWs. In addition, racing is the only sport that can take internet wagers across state lines. But handle isn’t growing. Are we driving the casual player out of the market? Is there an effective takeout for different types of players? What factors come into play and how can we correct them?
Hair Testing: Giving New Meaning to Having a Bad Hair Day
Out of competition hair testing has been successfully implemented in several jurisdictions for major American Quarter Horse events including the All American Futurity and Derby. Panelists explain how this testing is done, how it’s held up to legal scrutiny and if there’s expansion of the program on the horizon.
Maximizing Sponsorship Opportunities by Staying Close to Home
While sponsorships with national organizations and businesses are incredibly important to racetracks across the country, many tracks aren’t in the position to garner interest at that level. Panelists discuss the tremendous upside of regionally-based sponsorships, the best ways to approach and gain local market support as well as other ideas of how to monetize the racing product effectively.
What’s up with Wagering?
Panelists discuss a number of issues associated with the wagering side of racing including: new ways to look at old wagers (The Pick 4), the ramifications of the new U.S. tax withholding laws, and progress on ADW credit card account funding issues.
Tools You Can Use: Content Marketing to the Modern Horse Racing Consumer
Marketing has changed more in the past three years than it has in the past fifty. Businesses in every industry are struggling to adapt quickly and efficiently to the new digital consumer. In this session, speakers will discuss the future of horse racing content and share tools to support social media live streaming, content scheduling, analytics and social media advertising that can help businesses within the racing industry evolve with the modern consumer.
XBTV Aftercare Film Festival: “The Importance of Thoroughbred Aftercare and Accreditation to the Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding Industries”
For the complete agenda, see https://ua-rtip.org/symposium/.
NEW ORGANIZATION TO HELP WOMEN BREAK INTO HORSE RACING INDUSTRY
According to the Paulick Report, young women looking to break into the Thoroughbred business will soon have a central network of allies to help them do it. Anna Seitz and Donna Barton Brothers announced the creation of the Thoroughbred Women’s Network during a panel on women in racing at the Ownerview National Owner Conference during Breeders’ Cup week.
The Network will be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is still in its infancy, but its purpose will be to help connect young women with mentors in their desired field, help current women in the business connect with each other, and showcase female success in a male-dominated business. Eventually, the network may offer grants to help women start their own businesses in racing.
OWNER CONFERENCE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Video presentations and photos from the fourth Thoroughbred Owner Conference, co-hosted by OwnerView and BloodHorse, are available at ownerview.com/conference-videos and ownerview.com/conference-photo-galleries.
The videos include the panel presentations, which featured discussions with prominent owners, trainers, jockeys, and other racing industry personalities, and the keynote address, which was delivered by Jeff Fager, Thoroughbred owner and executive producer of “60 Minutes.”