University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program

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...

We have asked some of racing's best and brightest what they think racing will be like in 2036. Here are some submissions from our readers. Thoroughbred Racing in 2036: Building a Smarter, Safer Future By 2036, Thoroughbred racing may look markedly different from the sport of today. The industry is entering a period of transition shaped by technology, safety reform, digital fan engagement, and growing expectations around responsibility and transparency. Rather than abandoning its history, racing appears to be learning from it and building forward. One of the most significant...

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...

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...

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...

Registration is now open for the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP)'s 50th Global Symposium on Racing, the world's largest racing conference, scheduled for Dec. 9-11 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort near Tucson, Arizona. A full agenda of topics and speakers will be released later this summer. To register for the symposium, get host hotel information, or to explore sponsorship opportunities, visit racingsymposium.com.

The University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), known for educating future leaders in racing, is hiring an Assistant Professor of Practice. The individual will deliver a minimum of 14 units of the program's core coursework and report directly to the Director of the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences. Click here for more information.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be honored with the 2023 Clay Puett Award, the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program announced Wednesday. "Since its founding, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has been at the forefront of equine welfare," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "Their impactful work, alongside their accredited organizations, has significantly elevated our industry by successfully transitioning Thoroughbred athletes to new homes and fulfilling careers." Founded in 2012, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance operates through a comprehensive process of accreditation, inspection, and the awarding of grants to approved aftercare organizations....

Officially sold out, the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) opens its 27th annual training conference with a reception for attendees on Sunday evening at the Lodge in the Desert in Tucson, Arizona. The ORI Conference includes a dozen speaker sessions scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, as presenters cover a variety of topics, including money laundering, regulatory oversight, medications, ethics, the media, human trafficking, licensing, drugs and alcohol on the backstretch, employee retention and barn surveillance. The final speaker on Tuesday will be Shawn Loehr, Director of Investigative Operations for the...

Money laundering, licensing, ethics, the relationship between the investigator and the media, human trafficking, an overview of Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) and an in-depth case study at Rillito Park Racetrack are just some of the session topics that the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will cover during their 2023 conference, which will be held from Sunday, Feb. 26 to Wednesday, Mar. 1 at the University of Arizona and The Lodge on the Desert in Tucson. True to form, the agenda, which was announced Thursday, places a strong emphasis...

Beginning Dec. 26--Opening Day of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet--fans will be able to meet and watch track announcer Pete Aiello call a race while helping to retrain, rehome and retire Thoroughbreds. For a $50 donation per person, up to six fans can watch Aiello call a race from the announcer's booth with the proceeds going to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). "The TAA is very grateful to the team at Gulfstream Park and Peter Aiello for this unique and fun way to raise funds and awareness for aftercare. We hope...