Global Symposium on Racing

Registration for the 2026 Global Symposium on Racing, taking place Dec. 7-9 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, is now open. To register, click here. Over three days, attendees will participate in timely panel discussions, hear from influential industry leaders, and explore topics impacting the future of horse racing. A full agenda and speaker lineup will be announced later this summer. "The Global Symposium continues to be the one place where every segment of the racing industry comes together for honest conversation, innovative thinking, and meaningful collaboration," said...

It's a piece of legislation not introduced yet, but that didn't stop two industry leaders from discussing at last week's racing symposium in Arizona a proposed immigration change that could alter the way the sport's workforce seeks employment here legally. At the symposium, Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) CEO Lisa Lazarus reportedly discussed a plan to expand P Visas to include equine workers with a built-in funding mechanism for the organization, according to BloodHorse. Currently, the backstretch workforce falls under the umbrella of the Fair Labor Standards Act, limiting...

The 2025 Global Symposium on Racing, hosted by the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), will offer a free live stream of the panel discussing CAW Growth and the importance of balancing it with racing' long-term health, it was announced via press release. "The Sustainability Algorithm: Balancing CAW Growth with Racing's Long-Term health" will be available to the public for free via live stream and video on demand. The session is set to begin Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 9:45am MST. More information and access to the live stream...

The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program Global Symposium on Racing, scheduled for Dec. 8-10, will be streamed online with Roberts Communications Network making the stream available on the Racetrack Television Network. All proceeds from the sales of streaming packages will go back to the RTIP. "Year after year, the Global Symposium on Racing brings together the entire racing community to discuss the most important topics in our industry, and we are very excited to deliver it on an international scale," said RCN and RTN President and CEO Todd...

The agenda has been released for the 51st Annual Global Symposium on Racing, which will be held Dec. 8-10 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. According to a release from the Race Track Industry Program, "This year's program will spotlight the forces reshaping the industry and the solutions needed to prosper in a rapidly evolving landscape. Topics include examining the racing business model, the rise of prediction markets, Thoroughbred breeding trends, and supporting mental wellness." In addition, entrepreneur and owner Mike Repole will share his insights in a...

The 51st annual Global Symposium on Racing, hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, will include a panel titled "Strength in Numbers: Innovative Approaches to Boosting U.S. Thoroughbred Breeding" to address the ongoing issue of declines to the foal crop. The session will bring together leaders from racing and breeding to discuss ideas to reinvigorate regional Thoroughbred breeding programs. Panelists will highlight successful models ranging from innovative incentive programs to targeted policy reforms, with an emphasis on collaborative, multi-state efforts. Featured panelists include, Paul Ryneveld, Director, Horse...

Registration is open for the Global Symposium on Racing, which will take place December 8-10, 2025, at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, the event announced Friday. The Global Symposium on Racing brings together leaders and innovators from every corner of the horse racing world to explore the industry's most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. Over the course of three days and more than a dozen panel sessions, attendees will engage in discussions and gain valuable insights. This year's Symposium will feature a pre-conference media training workshop titled 'Calm....

No industry gathering at which Thoroughbred executives discuss pricing issues is immune from the intertwined topic of death and taxes. In the pari-mutuel world, that means talking about takeout, or, more specifically, how the disparate fees that different classes of bettors must pay for the privilege of placing wagers are killing off smaller-scale casual horseplayers. A Wednesday panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson was the latest Thoroughbred confab at which the takeout issue got batted around...

Technological changes on the immediate horizon for the racing industry won't be so much of the gee-whiz or sci-fi variety. Instead, they'll be more like much-needed ease-of-use and cumbersome-task-simplifying tools that are currently being built and driven by massive collections of data. Tuesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson kicked off with Lisa Lazarus, the chief executive officer of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), articulating a significant data point--that as of Dec. 10, 2024, the fatality rate of...

Former jockey Aaron Gryder and five-time Eclipse Award-winning writer Jay Hovdey will be on hand at the upcoming Global Symposium on Racing to sign copies of Well Armed: A Thoroughbred of Destiny. The signing will take place on the afternoon of Dec. 10, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. The just-published book is a story about the son of Tiznow, bred and raced by WinStar Farm, who overcame many physical setbacks to win the 2009 G1 Dubai World Cup by a whopping 14 lengths. The story is...

The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Global Symposium on Racing, to be held Dec. 9-11, will be streamed online, making the conference accessible to those who cannot attend in person. Roberts Communication Network (RCN) will stream the event via the Racetrack Television Network (RTN), with all proceeds from the sale going back to the RTIP. "We are very excited to once again stream the Symposium through our RCN and RTN partnership," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "As we approach our milestone 50th Symposium, we continue to see...

Oaklawn Park President Louis Cella will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 Global Symposium on Racing at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort this December. Under Cella's leadership, Oaklawn has consistently expanded its racing footprint by lengthening the racing schedule, building a $100-million casino/hotel and by introducing fan-friendly entertainment options, leading to increased attendance and handle. "Under Mr. Cella's leadership, Oaklawn expanded their racing season into December while keeping both their on-track and simulcasting business strong," said Robert Hartman, Race Track Industry Program Chair. "Their racing product continues to strengthen as...