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Bill Nader Named Next TOC President, CEO

Bill Nader has agreed to join the Thoroughbred Owners of California as President and Chief Executive Officer, the organization announced today. Nader's appointment will take effect in October of this year. He succeeds Greg Avioli who resigned earlier this year.
Nader, 64, joins the TOC from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), where he has held senior executive positions since 2007. Prior to that, Nader was the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the New York Racing Association, where he was employed from 1994-2007.

“Given his experience both domestically and internationally and the respect he commands across the Thoroughbred racing industry, we could not be more pleased to announce Bill Nader as our President and CEO,” said TOC Chairman Gary Fenton. “California has been at the forefront of historic industry changes the last few years, and Bill's appointment is another forward-thinking step. The future of California racing has never been brighter.”

“I look forward to working together with everyone at the TOC and all valued stakeholders within the industry to build a strong and sustainable future for California racing,” said Nader. “California has a rich history and some of the world's most beautiful racetracks. I'm excited to accept this position to represent not only those that I serve but also a sport for which I have great passion and respect.”

Most recently, Nader served as the Director of Racing Product, Marketing and Sponsorship for the HKJC since August of last year. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of Racing and the Director of Racing Business and Operations. In addition, from 2018-2021, he was Chairman of the Board and Legal Representative of Guangzhou Hong Kong Jockey Club Race Horse Training where he was responsible for the HKJC's new HK$3.7 billion race course in Conghua, China, which opened in 2018. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is widely recognized as the world-class leader in Thoroughbred racing and wagering. During Nader's tenure, wagering increased from HK$60 billion in 2006 to a record high HK$133 billion in 2021.

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Engelbrecht-Bresges Named New President of the IHSC

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges was unanimously elected President of the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) at the online IHSC General Assembly on Apr. 22. The third president of the organisation that was founded in 2013, he succeeds FEI President Ingmar De Vos.

Engelbrecht-Bresges, who will serve a two-year term, said, “I am very grateful to be elected President of the IHSC and must pay tribute to Ingmar, whose leadership at the helm of the Confederation has been significantly important and impactful for global horse sport.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Louis Romanet, Chairman Emeritus of the IFHA, and a previous President and Vice-President of the IHSC. His vision for both the IFHA and the IHSC has laid the groundwork for these organizations to work in harmony for our shared missions.

“The relationship between the FEI and the IFHA has indeed been strengthened during the pandemic, and I look forward to leading the IHSC as President, and advancing our shared ideals and activities, specifically our partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).”

Engelbrecht-Bresges previously served as the standing representative of the IFHA in the IHSC General Assembly and is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), a position he has held since 2007. He also serves as the Chair of the IFHA, and is the Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF).

“I am very pleased to pass the Presidential baton to Winfried and I know that the IHSC will benefit greatly from his capable leadership,” Ingmar De Vos, who will support Engelbrecht-Bresges as the IHSC Vice-President, said. “With his vast experience in horse racing and his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of equine and human athletes, Winfried also has a thorough understanding of the needs and expectations of the industry in the years to come.”

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HKJC To Offer Record Prize-Money For New Season

Record total prize-money and incentives of HK$1.62 billion, approximately £158.6 million, will be offered across the 2022/23 season, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on Wednesday. Overall purses will be bolstered by a record single-season increase of 11.5% (HK$167.2 million) and there are also increases in prize-money across middle-distance races and a new bonus system.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chief executive officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “The last two and a half years have been among the most challenging times in Hong Kong racing history. Despite this, we have been able to continue racing and we would like to thank everybody in the industry for working together to make it happen.

“With various kinds of COVID-19 measures including overseas travel restrictions, it has made it difficult for owners and trainers to go to the sales to source horses for two racing seasons. Furthermore, we are facing an increased competition to source good horses due to prize-money increases around the world, especially Australia which is the main source of our bloodstock. The popularity of overseas racing syndicates, which are less willing to sell horses as well as highly competitive power from Gulf countries also makes the issue harder.

“We recognise all of these factors, but firmly believe that the impacts of this will be short-term. We have seen Hong Kong emerge as one of the world leaders in racing both in terms of its quality and its international recognition. We have also successfully pioneered large scale international commingling, and now the World Pool. We firmly believe that Hong Kong racing will have room for further growth and we are fully committed to making the necessary investments to achieve this, both through major plans for significant capital investments in our racecourses and training facilities in Sha Tin and Conghua, as well as in a prize-money pool that rewards owners who invest in high-quality horses.”

Hong Kong now hosts the world's richest Group 1 turf races at 1200m, 1600m, and 2000m. In addition, the four Group 1 features at the Longines Hong Kong International Races will offer total prize-money of HK$110 million, approximately £10.7 million, an increase of HK$10 million on 2021. The three races that received prize-money increases are as follows:

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) purse will increase to HK$34 million (+13.3%).
The G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) purse rises to HK$30 million (+15.4%).
The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) will be worth HK$22 million (+10%), and is now the sixth-richest Group 1 2400m event in the world.

“The Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) have been widely recognised as the Turf World Championships and the HK$110 million total prize-money also highlights the Club's commitment to attracting and rewarding the world's best,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges.

Other notable Group 1 races are the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), with a purse of HK$12 million, the HK$20-million Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) on FWD Champions Day, and the HK$24-million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). The latter pair are the richest and second-richest 1200-metre turf races in the world. In addition, the purses for Hong Kong's Group 2 and Group 3 races have been boosted to HK$5 million (+5.3%)) and HK$3.9 million (+5.4%), respectively.

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Engelbrecht-Bresges Appointed New VP of IHSC

The International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) General Assembly has unanimously elected Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges as the new IHSC Vice-President. Engelbrecht-Bresges had previously served as the standing representative of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in the IHSC General Assembly. Also the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)'s Chief Executive Officer since 2007, Engelbrecht-Bresges is the Chair of the IFHA and the Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF).

“Winfried's expertise in the horse racing industry has been of great value to the work of the IHSC, as is his commitment to protecting the welfare of equine and human athletes,” IHSC President Ingmar De Vos said. “The IHSC was created to strengthen and formalise the cooperation between horse racing and equestrian sport in fields where we share common interest, and specifically to establish a partnership between horse sport and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

“We have many ongoing projects in different fields and I look forward to continuing this close working relationship with Winfried and the IFHA, and I would like to extend my warm congratulations to him on his election. I also would like to convey my warmhearted thanks to his predecessor Louis Romanet for his great contribution to our organisation.”

Engelbrecht-Bresges said, “I'm extremely honoured to be elected Vice-President of the IHSC. I would like to thank our President, Ingmar De Vos, and the General Assembly for their trust and support. I would also like to thank our past President and IFHA Chairman Emeritus Louis Romanet who was instrumental in the establishment of the IHSC as the first vehicle for co-operation between the world's leading peak horse sports bodies.

“I look forward to furthering the collective objectives of the IFHA and the FEI, as well as advocating for the horse industry with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other international bodies.”

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