Sports betting, stemming the dearth of backside employees, inadvertent equine exposure to recreational and prescription medications, aftercare and many other issues of concern to trainers and horsemen will be on the agenda at the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) Convention to be held Mar. 13-17 at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel in New Orleans.
Prominent owner-breeder Clay Whitham of Whitham Family Thoroughbreds will deliver the keynote address the afternoon of Mar. 14. The convention features panels and presentations Mar. 14 and 15, along with the morning of Mar. 16, followed by an afternoon of racing at the Fair Grounds. Convention registration opens Mar. 13, with the HBPA board meeting the morning of Mar. 17.
“The HBPA Convention's mission is to provide insight, information and a variety of perspectives to keep our horsemen up to date in a rapidly-changing world, to let our membership and their HBPA representatives know how owners and trainers are impacted by regulatory changes, technology advances and business trends and how they might better their operations and our sport,” said Eric Hamelback, the National HBPA's chief executive officer.
Other topics on the agenda include equine law, drug testing, workers' compensation, workforce issues and marketing. The roster of speakers appearing at the convention includes Greg Bensel, senior vice president for communications for the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans; Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill U.S.; and Ted Shults, an international drug-testing expert.
The National HBPA Claiming Horse of the Year also will be recognized with a presentation to the owners of Mended (Broken Vow), Mr. and Mrs. Troy Onorato.
Details on registration, hotel reservations and the full agenda are available here.
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