The Conference was chaired by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and focused on safeguarding equine welfare and exploring shifts in societal expectations, as well as the racing industry's response around the world. It examined both immediate concerns and forward-looking initiatives to protect and promote equine welfare.

The ICHSWJ was held on Sept. 28 at Auteuil Racecourse in Paris and featured presentations and panels on overall jockey well-being, including concussions, spinal injuries, and mental health and psychological fitness.

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Organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the day-long conference emphasized horse racing in a changing society, safeguarding equine welfare and explore shifts in societal expectations and the racing industry's response around the world.

“Today we continued what has been a chief mission throughout the life of the Federation: equine welfare,” IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who delivered the Conference's opening and closing remarks, said. “This Conference provides an opportunity to focus and build upon the significant body of work which has been carried out domestically and internationally over many years by our members to protect our equine athletes.

Moderated by racing presenter Nick Luck, speakers on the day included Professor Natalie Waran, Chair of the Independent Commission for Equine Ethics and Wellbeing for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI); Lisa-Jane Graffard, General Secretary, Au-Delà des Pistes; Julie Harrington, Chief Executive, British Horseracing Authority (BHA); Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Inc. (NYTB); James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, BHA; Josh Rubinstein, President, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club; Brian Stewart, Head of Veterinary Clinical Services, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC); Sonia Wittreck, Stud Book & Doping Control, Head of Department, France-Galop; and Hiroshi Ito, Counselor of the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

During her speech, Waran presented key strategies for equine sports to proactively consider amidst changing societal expectations. This included increasing continuing education for anyone working hands-on with equine athletes to better their welfare.

“Our changing social values in relation to animals have affected different industries in different ways,” said Waran. “It is important to recognise that society does not distinguish between different equestrian sports. There is enough data out there to show that the concerns around horse involvement in sport are rising. The racing world must positively engage with both perception and reality and show real commitment to change to ensure positive welfare.”

Following her keynote, a panel of senior racing administrators including Lisa-Jane Graffard, General Secretary, Au-Delà des Pistes; Julie Harrington, Chief Executive, British Horseracing Authority (BHA); and Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Inc. (NYTB), shared their approaches and strategies to shape the narratives surrounding equine welfare and racing.

The next panel of the Conference featured leaders from racing administration and veterinary science who explored protecting the sport's equine athletes. Speakers included James Given, Director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, BHA; Josh Rubinstein, President, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club; Brian Stewart, Head of Veterinary Clinical Services, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC); and Sonia Wittreck, Stud Book & Doping Control, Head of Department, France-Galop.

“Getting the balance right is part of training, but it is also something technology can help us with,” said Stewart. “If we do have a problem, we have to be able to achieve an accurate diagnosis, and that will guide our future management of that horse. Things are now coming together, and I am quite hopeful we might be able to make a significant difference.”

Also, Charles Scheeler, Chair of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in the United States, gave an update on the organisation, including a review of the implementation of the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program and future developments.

“HISA is working under the supervision of the Federal Trade Commission and in partnership with the members of the sport to transform horse racing,” Scheeler said. “The essence of this effort is the creation of an ecosystem of care surrounding horses. We remain excited about horse racing's future in the United States, and we recognise that we have a rich legacy to protect.”

The final session of the Conference looked in-depth at enhancing stakeholder engagement, specifically regarding public engagement and response in relation to equine welfare. Nevin Truesdale, the Chief Executive Officer of The Jockey Club (UK), began the session with a discussion of his organisation's experiences with effective resolution and communication management.

“We need to operate together on this,” said Truesdale. “Having a clear set of messages as an industry, everyone singing off the same sheet, became really important for us in the lead up and the aftermath of Epsom. We have to be relentless in continuing to make the sport safer and in telling that story. There is a persuadable audience, statistics show us that, but that will only work for us if we are clear on the changes we are making. Standing still on this is not optional.”

The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organized and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on Oct. 9, 1967. Since 1994, the annual conference has been organized by the IFHA and The JRA became the official partner of the Conference beginning in 2021. This year's Conference convened delegates from about 40 different countries, with a number of other racing executives and media members in attendance.

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“As the first in-person conference in three years, this event convenes at a critical junction of our industry as we examine the key reforms and issues impacting the sport and look forward to the key opportunities and challenges ahead,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who will deliver the Conference's opening and closing remarks. “I personally look forward to the sharing of ideas that the conference will bring, and for us to connect in person once again.”

Additionally, Carly Dixon, Executive General Manager, Stakeholder, Customer & Corporate Affairs, Racing Victoria, in her capacity as Executive Director of the 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) Organizing Committee, is scheduled to showcase the 39th ARC, which will be held in Melbourne in February 2023.

A live video stream of the Open Forum of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities will be available on the IFHA's website.

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Allen Hershkowitz, environmental science advisor to the New York Yankees and founding director and chairman of Sports and Sustainability International, spoke about the threats presented by climate change and how racing can put sustainability into practice.

“We are in an urgent situation,” Hershkowitz stressed. “Some scientists have begun referring to the circumstances that we're in as a human extinction event. As temperatures go up, right now there is 100% likelihood that we will go from a 1.1 degree celsius temperature increase to a 1.5 degree celsius temperature increase by 2040. There is a more than 50% chance that will go to three or four degrees celsius by 2080.

“It's impossible to imagine the catastrophes that will result from that level of temperature increase. None of this is good for horse racing or horse farms in general. We already know that many races have been cancelled because of heat, many tracks have been damaged because of floods. Many races and tracks are suffering from drought, and of course many races and tracks are affected by fires.”

While climate change is certainly a hot topic, Hershkowitz was quick to stress that sustainability is about far more.

“When we speak about sustainability, it's important to remember it isn't just about climate action,” he said. “In 2015, the United Nations brought together 198 countries to agree on a set of Sustainable Development Goals. There are 17 of them, and they include poverty alleviation, eliminating hunger, good health; when we talk about sustainability, it's not just about climate.”

Hershkowitz provided examples that some major league sports teams and venues are taking to address sustainability, and the positive impact it can have on their bottom line. The Orlando Magic Basketball team cut its energy use by 25% for $750,000 in savings annually. The Seattle Mariners cut natural gas use by 66% and electricity use by 30%, resulting in $500,000 in savings annually. The Staples Center, home to professional basketball and hockey teams in Los Angeles, saved $28,000 annually and cut out the use of seven million gallons of water by installing 178 waterless urinals.

And it isn't just American sports that are making strides.

“Right now, every professional sports league in the United States and in Europe has a sustainability programme,” Hershkowitz said. “The International Olympic Committee has produced a spectacular environmental sustainability strategy that goes to 2030 and beyond. It obligates venues that want to bid on the Olympics to implement environmentally intelligent practices.”

Hershkowitz laid out some of the ways in which racing can work on its sustainability.

“One of the most important things I think a sports organization can do at the moment is to make sure your employees at your venues are safe,” he said. “We're still struggling with a global pandemic. Sustainable development goal number three is good health. Economic health is dependant on human health, and human health is dependant on planetary health. But planetary health is also dependant on economic health. If we can't make investments into new technologies we're not going to work our way through the various ecological crises we face.

“Horse racing is fundamentally connected to the agriculture sector, and the agriculture sector is really getting stressed through climate impacts. There is no one thing that any racing organization can do that's going to get us out of this situation, unfortunately, but every little thing matters. What we need to do is have the courage to do small things.”

Those small things could include the installation of electric vehicle chargers at racecourses, using catering services that utilize sustainability menus and support local food producers, and digitalizing media guides or racecards. Hershkowitz stressed the importance of establishing a baseline so that an organization knows what its current impacts are and what it is working towards. He said two terms that all sports organizations should become familiar with are “dematerialization” and “decarbonization.”

“Decarbonization is about how can we reduce our emissions of carbon through energy and procurement, like how we supply food,” he explained. “Dematerialization is about how can we reduce the need to buy physical products that can be supplied digitally.”

“The single most important thing we can do to promote sustainability is to change cultural attitudes and expectations about how to relate to the planet,” Hershkowitz added. “How should we relate to the ecosystems that give us water to drink? That give us air to breathe? We're treating the atmosphere like a sewer. This is why your organization having a conversation about this issue is so important.

“Regulators are increasingly looking at how organizations are managing their energy and their climate. Investors don't want to be associated with organizations that aren't being sustainability smart. For future legitimacy, the social license to operate, taking responsibility for your sustainability impacts is fundamental.”

Racing's Television Future

Michael Mulvihill, executive vice president, head of strategy and analytics at American television network FOX Sports, spoke about how FOX has partnered with the New York Racing Association to grow FOX's coverage of racing from about 80 hours a year to 800 hours in a space of five years. A large leap was made during the early months of the pandemic last year, when American racing continued while most sports worldwide came to a standstill.

“Because there was such an absence of live sports, we were able to elevate our content from Belmont and Saratoga from a network called FOX Sports 2, which is in about 50 million homes, to FOX Sports 1, which at that time was in closer to 80 million homes,” Mulvihill said. “Our viewership went up by over 100%; wagering was way up during the pandemic. It's delicate to talk about taking advantage of that situation because it's obviously a worldwide challenge, but I think the reality is that as a business, horse racing in the U.S. was able to take advantage of the circumstances and enjoy some growth. And we've been able to continue that into 2021 as the pandemic has abated a bit.”

FOX earlier this year exercised an option it held to become a 25% equity partner in NYRA's advanced deposit wagering platform NYRA Bets, and Mulvihill said he thinks there is a direct correlation between that partnership and the exponential growth in wagering at Saratoga this summer-all sources handle on New York's premiere meeting was $815-million, which cleared the previous record by about $100-million.

“I think it's that equity piece specifically that makes our relationship unique,” he said. “Traditionally, the relationship between media and horse racing is a very traditional content and advertising relationship. You pay a rights fee for the content, you produce it as well as you can, you sell advertising against the viewership of that content, and that's as far as it goes. Now that we have the stake we have in NYRA Bets, it really incentivises us to promote the wagering, assist in the mainstreaming of wagering in the U.S. and to try to grow the asset value of NYRA Bets in the U.S.”

FOX has the option to acquire another 24.9% of NYRA Bets, something Mulvihill said he believes will be exercised “in the relatively near future.”

FOX's coverage is renowned for striking a balance between sophisticated handicapping angles and traditional sports programming, and Mulvihill said that was the goal of the network even before the deal was done to buy into NYRA Bets.

“From the time we initiated this content five years ago, our intent was to do a daily production that was really specifically targeted at day in, day out horseplayers and people who put a significant amount of money through the windows and are the lifeblood of this business,” he said. “If you look at horse racing on American TV, there is the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup that are held by NBC and they do a beautiful job producing those events for a general sports viewership. There is TVG, which is produced for a day in, day out horse playing audience, but they're producing a lot of tracks so they don't get to spend a lot of time on one track in particular.

“What we wanted to do was carve out an in between path where we could focus on just one track, one circuit, and really devote the time and attention we felt the NYRA tracks deserved, and also elevate the production value a bit. We very much wanted to be open in encouraging people to play the game, open a NYRA Bets account and engage in handicapping.”

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that individual states could legalize sports betting, and a number have already done so. Mulvihill said that FOX's horse racing coverage could serve as an example for other sports and programmes of how to weave wagering angles into their coverage.

“I really think that the way we produce our shows is something of a blueprint for the future of sports television in the U.S.,” he said. “I'd like to believe we're setting a pretty good example of incorporating wagering, recognizing that wagering is an important part of the event, but also still primarily covering it as a sports event first. I think 10 years from now, that's how all sports will be presented on American TV.”

Until recently, horse racing has held a monopoly as the only American sporting event that accepted betting. While the legalization of sports wagering can easily be viewed as a threat to racing, Mulvihill said he sees it as an opportunity to promote racing to a new audience.

“I think that's already happening,” he said. “I think it's reflected in those Saratoga figures we talked about earlier. I think that indicates that there is a rediscovery of horse racing happening in the U.S. I think the fact that we've had two Triple Crown winners in the last decade helps. I think the opportunity that racing was able to take advantage of during the peak of the pandemic helps, and I think racing in some ways has been repositioned as a great social activity and a great day out.”

“It's a pivotal moment for racing, and I think the industry in the U.S. has capitalized on it,” Mulvihill added. “I think the next step in that transformation is going to be the introduction of HISA [the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Act, the legislation that will regulate American racing on a national level] and letting the public know that there are credible and meaningful safeguards around safety and integrity so that when they do come to the track to enjoy that day out, they know the horses and riders are being well-cared for and that their wagering is being conducted on an event that is held at the highest possible level of integrity.

“If you combine all those things-the safety and integrity, the emphasis on racing as a fun social activity, the recent Triple Crown winners and the momentum we have coming out of the pandemic–it really is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for horse racing.”

Mulvihill said he hopes FOX's racing coverage expands beyond the shores of the U.S. to encompass some of the sports greatest events globally.

“We would love to further the presence that we have in international racing,” he said. “I really want FOX Sports and our networks to be the American home for the great events in racing around the world. We've had great experiences with the Dubai World Cup and the Saudi Cup, and we want to find ways to bring more of that content to our networks.”

Equine Welfare

The advancement of equine welfare and aftercare of the Thoroughbred racehorse is an area in which the industry has made huge strides globally in recent years, and in which there will always be work to do and room for improvement. Jamie Stier, chair of the IFHA Horse Welfare Committee and Racing Victoria's executive general manager, integrity services, and Di Arbuthnot, chief executive for Retraining of Racehorses and chair of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses, joined the conference to share updates on equine welfare and aftercare.

Stier spoke on the importance and wide implications of traceability of the Thoroughbred from birth through the lifecycle.

“Traceability is a really interesting and hot topic at the moment,” he said. “It has two components to it: there is the welfare component, but there's also the biosecurity component. In a lot of countries biosecurity relates to prevention of disease and being able to trace horses if there is an outbreak of disease, which is in their best health interests, and of course welfare.

“But if you look across the lifecycle of a horse, traceability is so important because we need to know where our horses are. We need to get a proper picture of where our horses are ending up. It helps us identify gaps and all sorts of lifetime experiences of the horse and how we can structure our programmes to support horses. Traceability is imperative if we're going to provide proper care to our horses. Equally if we have good traceability data, it enables us as a sport to be able speak positively, comfortably and very assertively about our sport, what we are doing and the provisions we're providing our horses.”

Stier noted that Racing Victoria is allocating significant resources to aftercare and welfare incentives, like providing trainers access to sophisticated diagnostic tools to identify potential injuries earlier; launching a platform for the registration of ex-racehorses and providing grants to programmes that can place off-track Thoroughbreds with less post-racing athletic potential.

“We've introduced programmes here in Victoria geared towards assisting and incentivizing trainers to use the best diagnostic tools available to them to ensure their horse receives the best treatment during its racing career,” Stier explained. “We're also investing a lot in research that will help us to earlier recognize the potential onset of lameness and cause of lameness. All that is geared toward providing a second career for the horse post-racing.”

“We've launched an off the track platform where people are now registering their horses,” he added. “We're incentivizing people not just at the first transfer after racing-that's covered by the rules of racing here, people must notify us where the horse goes for its first transfer–But what we've found through the incentives we're offering through the off the track community is that when horses are in their teens, we're still getting people identifying with us where their horses are. So we're getting that picture well beyond the first transfer out of racing.”

Racing Victoria's programme also covers horses with limited athletic potential after their racing careers, with grants offered for equine therapy programmes that use ex-racehorses.

Arbuthnot noted there has been a steep increase in the numbers of ex-racehorses competing in disciplines like dressage in Britain, and that there has been a concerted effort to showcase the athletic abilities of ex-racehorses and to create a demand for them in the sport horse community.

“It's about contacts within the industry and within the equestrian world to try and build this programme and to make the Thoroughbred fashionable,” she explained. “When RoR started, racehorses might have been taken on by professionals and got to a high level, but they weren't popular with the equestrian world. Having seen one of the very good trainers at Blenheim last week, he said RoR had changed the programme in the equestrian world; it was revolutionary. And I think that's because the professionals helped us in those early days to make them popular, so now we have a market.”

Arbuthnot reiterated how IFAR is working to advance aftercare globally, which is especially important in light of recent damning reports in the media in both Australia and Ireland about ex-racehorses winding up in abattoirs.

“IFAR is a forum for discussion, for improving best practice and getting out to all the racing jurisdictions around the world and trying to encourage them to have some sort of aftercare programme in place,” she said. “The group has put together an aftercare toolkit, which is about lifetime management, transitioning strategies, safety nets, equine therapy and community engagement, Thoroughbred advocacy and networking. We went to Japan in those earlier days and they have a wonderful programme in place now. We've been engaged with South Korea, and recently Malaysia and we're working with the European racing jurisdictions as well. France has come on hugely in the last few years. We are all working together to help each other.”

Arbuthnot reiterated that “we are all associated” with some of the troubling reporting that has surfaced in mainstream media, and that it is up to everyone in racing to make aftercare a priority.

“Whatever happens anywhere around the world reflects on us all, and that's what we have to be aware of,” she said. “We must all do more to help and work together to show racing cares. It's non-negotiable.

“The average person watching racing is saying, 'what happens when they finish racing?' So we have to get that message out, otherwise we won't have a product. We won't have racing in years to come.”

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges succeeds Louis Romanet as chairman of the IFHA following Romanet's 27-year term, and he likewise addressed the importance of looking to racing's future in his keynote address.

“The 55th International Conference of the IFHA comes at a most significant time for our sport and the world,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We face major macro challenges arising from the pandemic and climate change. More than ever, we must work together and harness the wealth of talent and expertise within our membership to not only face these challenges, but ensure that our sport thrives in the short, medium, and long term.

“This conference gives us the opportunity to look forward at some key parts of the IFHA's strategy for the future. We are fortunate to have world-class speakers sharing their insights regarding digitalisation and media, equine welfare, climate change and sustainability.”

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Video of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities is available on the IFHA's website and social media platforms. Podcasts of the speakers are also available.

The keynote speech was given by incoming IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who was recently elected as the new head of the Federation following Louis Romanet's retirement. Following his speech, the Conference featured panels on digitalization and media; equine welfare; and climate change and sustainability. The Conference concluded with a tribute to Romanet, who is retiring after 27 years as Chairman and who was appointed to the honorary position of Chairman Emeritus effective Oct. 4, 2021.

“The 55th International Conference of the IFHA comes at a most significant time for our sport and the world,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We face major macro challenges arising from the pandemic and climate change. More than ever, we must work together and harness the wealth of talent and expertise within our membership to not only face these challenges, but ensure that our sport thrives in the short, medium, and long term.

“This Conference gives us the opportunity to look forward at some key parts of the IFHA's strategy for the future. We are fortunate to have world-class speakers sharing their insights regarding digitalization and media, equine welfare, climate change and sustainability.”

Guest speakers at this year's Conference included Michael Mulvihill, executive vice president, head of strategy and analytics at FOX Sports; Jamie Stier, chair of the IFHA Horse Welfare Committee and Racing Victoria's executive general manager, integrity services; Di Arbuthnot, the chief executive for Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) and chair of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR); and Allen Hershkowitz, a founding director and chairman of Sport and Sustainability International and environmental science advisor to the New York Yankees. Respected presenter Rishi Persad returned this year to serve as moderator.

The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organised and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on October 9, 1967. Since 1994, the annual conference has been organised by the IFHA at France Galop. In 2019, the Conference convened delegates from more than 50 different countries with a number of other racing executives and media members in attendance. Historically held the day after the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), the Conference transitioned to a virtual format in 2020 as the result of COVID-19.

About IFHA

The IFHA is the global leader for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing, seeking to promote all facets of the worldwide sport; protect the welfare of the equine and human athlete; and protect and grow its global social and economic significance for current and future generations.

Major areas of the IFHA's activities include:

• Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (the IABRW)
• Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
• International Race Planning and Grading (“black type”)
• World Rankings
• The fight against Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices
• Harmonization of Racing Rules
• Certification of IFHA Reference Labs
• Promoting commercial development of the racing industry globally

The IFHA is a foundation member with Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) of the International Horse Sports Confederation and is affiliated to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

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This year's focus will be on global racing's evolution and future challenges, with the conference digitally released on Oct. 7. New IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will give the keynote speech, as well as several panel discussions. Some of the topics to be covered in this year's conference include: digitalisation and media; equine welfare; and climate change and sustainability. Rishi Persad will return as a moderator. FOX Sports' Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics Michael Mulvihill will discuss digitalisation and media, Racing Victoria Executive Manager Integrity Services Jamie Stier, who also serves as the Chair of the IFHA Horse Welfare Committee, and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Chief Executive Di Arbuthnot, who also chairs the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will speak on equine welfare. Allen Hershkowitz, a Founding Director and Chairman of Sport and Sustainability International, as well as the Environmental Science Advisor to the New York Yankees, will address the threat of climate change.

“Under Louis Romanet's leadership, the Federation has made significant progress in achieving its mission as a vehicle for harnessing our collective efforts for the benefit of the future development and prosperity of Thoroughbred racing,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “It is a privilege to commence my term as the second Chair in the Federation's history, and I am energised at the prospect of working with our members and stakeholders to build on the Federation's sound foundations.”

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Historically held in Paris, France, the day after the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), this year's conference will be released digitally on Thursday, Oct. 7.

The conference will feature a keynote speech given by incoming IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who was recently elected as the new leader of the Federation following Louis Romanet's retirement, as well as several panel discussions.

“Under Louis Romanet's leadership, the Federation has made significant progress in achieving its mission as a vehicle for harnessing our collective efforts for the benefit of the future development and prosperity of Thoroughbred racing,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “It is a privilege to commence my term as the second Chair in the Federation's history, and I am energized at the prospect of working with our members and stakeholders to build on the Federation's sound foundations.”

Beyond the pandemic, racing faces further threats and challenges which will need to be tackled head-on in order for the sport to continue to grow and thrive, and the Conference's guest speakers will address several of those issues. Topics to be covered include digitalization and media; equine welfare; and climate change and sustainability. Respected presenter Rishi Persad returns again this year to serve as moderator.

The segment on digitalization and media will examine how racing must adapt and integrate new technologies and approaches to connect with the next generation of fans. FOX Sports's Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics, Michael Mulvihill will discuss his experience in the field. Mulvihill is responsible for scheduling, strategic planning, Nielsen ratings analysis, and advertising sales and communications support within FOX Sports and helped facilitate the successful partnership between his organization and the New York Racing Association (NYRA).

Equine welfare will also take the spotlight during the Conference, with a particular focus on the need for comprehensive traceability as well as retirement systems and pathways. Jamie Stier and Di Arbuthnot will converse on the progress of equine welfare in these areas around the world. Stier serves as Racing Victoria's executive manager, integrity services, and in this role, he is responsible for equine welfare, veterinary services, stewarding, investigations and compliance, licensing, and prosecution of cases for integrity services. He was appointed Chair of the IFHA Horse Welfare Committee in 2015. Arbuthnot is the chief executive for Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), Great Britain's official charity concerning the welfare of retired racehorses. She also is the Chair of the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) and has been instrumental in the formation of the forum in order to share best practices globally.

Additionally, the threat posed by climate change to all industries, including racing and sport, and the expected opportunities and challenges to racing and breeding in achieving net zero emission will be featured. Allen Hershkowitz will present information on climate change and the importance of sustainability, and then he will discuss his presentation with Persad. A Founding Director and Chairman of Sport and Sustainability International, Hershkowitz is currently Environmental Science Advisor to the New York Yankees, the first role of its kind in professional sports.

The videos from the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities will be posted on the IFHA's website and social media platforms.

The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organized and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on October 9, 1967. Since 1994, the annual conference has been organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities at France Galop. In 2019, the Conference convened delegates from more than 50 different countries with a number of other racing executives and media members in attendance. In 2020, it transitioned to a virtual format as the result of COVID-19, and in January, it was announced that the Japan Racing Association (JRA) has become the official partner of this year's Conference.

About IFHA

The IFHA is the global leader for the international sport of Thoroughbred racing, seeking to promote all facets of the worldwide sport; protect the welfare of the equine and human athlete; and protect and grow its global social and economic significance for current and future generations.

Major areas of the IFHA's activities include

• Making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (the IABRW)
• Policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders
• International Race Planning and Grading (“black type”)
• World Rankings
• The fight against Equine Prohibited Substances and Practices
• Harmonization of Racing Rules
• Certification of IFHA Reference Labs
• Fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally

The IFHA is a foundation member with Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) of the International Horse Sports Confederation and is affiliated to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

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“We are pleased to have the JRA become our partner for the Federation’s signature conference,” said IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet. “Our conference, which traditionally is held in Paris, was virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19, but we are hopeful that it will be able to return to its traditional format this year.”

“The JRA is delighted to be the partner of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities,” said JRA President and CEO Masayuki Goto. “For more than 50 years, the International Horse Racing Conference has played a major role in the development of the global horse racing industry and enables delegates from all over the world, as well as a number of other racing executives, to exchange information, provide mutual assistance and promote joint research. By becoming a partner of the historical IFHA Conference, JRA hopes to contribute to the further development of international horse racing.”

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The first International Conference of Horseracing Authorities was organized and hosted by the Société d'Encouragement in Paris, France, on October 9, 1967. In 1993 the IFHA was funded with amalgamating around sixty members and since 1994, the annual conference has been organized by the IFHA at France Galop.

This official partnership will contribute to the further development of international horse racing and international cooperation.

Additionally, as part of the partnership, the JRA will promote Japanese racing on the IFHA's website and social media channels.

“We are pleased to have the JRA become our partner for the Federation's signature conference,” said IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet. “Our conference, which traditionally is held in Paris, was virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19, but we are hopeful that it will be able to return to its traditional format this year.”

“The JRA is delighted to be the partner of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities,” said JRA President and CEO Masayuki Goto. “For more than 50 years, the International Horse Racing Conference has played a major role in the development of the global horse racing industry and enables delegates from all over the world, as well as a number of other racing executives, to exchange information, provide mutual assistance and promote joint research. By becoming a partner of the historical IFHA Conference, JRA hopes to contribute to the further development of international horse racing.”

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“When the country was in lockdown we’d probably be what you termed the lucky ones, because we were out carrying on as normal,” Lyons recalled of the early days of the pandemic. “You could feel it in the staff that they knew they were doing a normal day’s work while everyone else was in lockdown, so that actually became a positive. The initial fear was that we weren’t going to get back racing, but they worked wonders and got us back racing relatively early. I think they did a great job and rescued a season that looked like it was in turmoil.

Appleby described reacting to the crisis while part of his team was in Dubai.

“The situation arrived in the spring when we were in Dubai so we were just at that crossover point with the horses and our staff shipping back,” he explained. “We already had the majority of the team back in the UK and a small team still in Dubai to look after those horses that were due to participate on Dubai World Cup night. So it was making sure first and foremost that they were alright and comfortable with what they were doing.

“Similar to what Ger mentioned, we’re lucky with the industry we’re in that we’re outdoors. So that was a plus, but you still have to address it in the correct manner with the staff and make sure they’re comfortable in coming to work and also that their families are comfortable with them doing that as well.”

Waller described the experience of going racing in Australia without crowds.

“It was quite surreal, but it was good because everyone was watching racing,” he said. “We were lucky in Australia, we were the first sport up and running; we didn’t stop. Australia was locked down and for at least two months there was no sport whatsoever. So racing stood tall and for all the right reasons it was seen to be a responsible sport. Through that we got a lot of good recognition. We saw that responsibility and carried it through.”

Waller was quick to praise his country’s governing bodies, particularly those in New South Wales.

“It’s all about good administration, not just in dealing with global pandemics but in racing in general,” he said. “That’s where the world needs to come together and see the countries that are doing well and the ones that are struggling and figure out why. We’re all beneficiaries of those good administrators and it’s sad to see some countries lagging behind.”

Waller said Australia’s experience dealing with a shutdown of racing in 2008 due to the equine influenza outbreak likely helped lay the foundation for the path forward this time.

“Going back in Australia to 2008 we had the equine influenza, and that did shut racing down,” he said. “I think that made the government stand up and realize how important racing is to the economy and society. We stopped racing for about three months and there was a lesson there to make sure we support racing. I think just as much as having good administrators it is about having a good relationship with the government.”

Another district that has continued to race throughout the pandemic is Hong Kong. Leading local rider Zac Purton described how international punters latched onto the product.

“One of the byproducts of the commingling that the Jockey Club has brought in here in the last few seasons has been that when other countries were not able to go ahead with their sports and different products, they were all of a sudden locked into what we were doing here in Hong Kong and commingling went through the roof,” he said. “We benefitted quite a lot from it. Our prizemoney remained the same and it’s actually gone up this year.”

Doyle and Lyons have each experienced major career milestones this summer at spectator-less meetings, and they reflected on those experiences. Doyle, who has ridden her first Royal Ascot winner and group-race winner this year, noted that the quiet has been good for some horses but a hindrance to others.

“At Ascot, for example, I had a 2-year-old running that I thought, ‘this will be ideal with no crowd. He’s a bit hot-headed, this should suit him.’ And it did,” she said. “But on the other hand I had an old handicapper running and he’s like the yard hack at home, you wouldn’t even think he’s a racehorse. But he comes alive at the races with the crowd and atmosphere. I rode him at Ascot and he was just like the old hack at home; he never came alive. So I think it affects horses in different ways.”

Lyons won his first Classic in June with Siskin (First Defense) in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and his second with Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) the next month in the G1 Irish Oaks.

“It’s just typical me to win the two Classics in a year where there’s no crowds and prizemoney is cut,” he said.

“First and foremost, racing is about the owners in my opinion and you need owners,” Lyons added. “Myself or Chris or Charlie as trainers will handle no crowds and it’s possible we can actually do our work better on a raceday with no crowds. But we’ll all agree that racing won’t survive without crowds and we need people to come racing. You need an atmosphere and we need crowds back for the whole game to survive.”

Appleby added, “The word Ger used there that summed it all up was atmosphere. If you’re lucky enough to have a winner, as much as you get the satisfaction of winning the event, you get an immense sense of achievement when people are applauding yourself, the horse, the jockey, the owner. That’s very missed on those big occasions. We’re racing, which is the main thing, but in a sporting industry crowds are very important.”

One of the rules imposed on jockeys by the British Horseracing Authority from racing’s resumption in June was that jockeys would be permitted to ride at just one meeting per day. That became an industry talking point over the summer with many riders touting the benefits-both for career advancement and mental health. Doyle reflected on the rule, saying, “I think it swings both ways. For me now I have a retainer so it’s a bit complicated. For example, if he has a runner somewhere and Archie [Watson], who is also my boss, has a runner somewhere else, it is a bit annoying that I can’t ride for both, but I think from a mental health side of things it’s a lot nicer on everyone. I’ve picked up better spare rides on Saturdays, for instance, because the top blokes can’t do two meetings.

“What I think would be great [in the future] is if they had a cap on how many double meetings you could do a week. Maybe you could do double meetings twice a week, and that would be great because it’s not completely stopping you from doing your job but it’s giving you that little bit of freedom.”

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