The 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) officially opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday (9 February) at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel and Convention Centre, marking the Conference’s return to the Arabian Peninsula for the first time since 2007. 

First staged in 1960, the Conference began with the opening ceremony, where Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chair, Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, welcomed approximately 650 guests from 45 countries.

Addressing attendees ahead of the Conference (10-12 February), Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to our host the JCSA (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia), in particular, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal.

“Over the 65 years since the first Asian Racing Conference, each of the ARCs has played a part in shaping the future of thoroughbred racing, but as we gather here now, in a world wracked with geopolitical tensions and division, and with our sport facing the headwinds of multiple challenges, the 41st ARC will be especially important.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to one of the world’s oldest equine cultures. For thousands of years, horses played a special role in the lives of the people of the Arabian Peninsula – they have been a companion in journey, a partner in survival, and a symbol of nobility, courage and honour.”

The Riyadh Conference theme – Honouring Tradition, Shaping the Future – features an interactive and dynamic three-day programme of guest speakers from jurisdictions around the world – opening a dialogue to discuss strategic insights, share high level perspectives on the future of racing, emerging trends, technologies, innovations, wagering, breeding, equine and human welfare, international competition and integrity as well as other several key matters.

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “By any measure thoroughbred racing is a major sport. It is underpinned by feats of incredible athleticism, it is followed by millions across the globe, and it generates substantial benefits for society both economically and through contributions to bettering the community. 

“But at the same time our sport is very different to almost every other major sport, because unlike others the centre of our sport is the horse. Not only does this define the Asian Racing Federation’s priorities, including welfare, integrity and development of the breed, but it is also the source of one of our greatest strengths, namely that this shared affinity for the horse provides a common purpose, inspiring us to work together across borders and take our sport to its greatest heights.

“As we enter the Year of the Horse, I am both conscious of the obstacles we must meet and excited by the possibilities that lie within our reach if we are bold enough to grasp them.

“Racing’s ongoing efforts to retain and increase relevance will become ever more important with the increased competition from other leisure activities – especially for the younger generation. At the same time, we are presented with a chance to rejuvenate our customer base with an improved race-going experience and new fan engagement platforms.”

The 41st ARC totals nine sessions, and also features key bureau meetings, including the ARF Executive Council, ARF General Assembly, International Stewards’ Conference, Asian Pattern Committee, the Asian and Oceania Stud Book Committee, and the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR).

Underlining his strong leadership of the ARF, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges was unanimously re-elected as ARF Chair by the Executive Council, a position he has held since 2014, having previously served as ARF Chair from 2007-09.

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges will open the first session of the ARC’s business programme on Tuesday, 10 February in a presentation titled “The Evolving Global Racing and Sporting Landscape” which examines the evolving global racing and sports landscape.

“In the opening session on Tuesday, we will survey the current state of racing and breeding within an ever-evolving global landscape. We will then examine how we can strategically tackle the sport’s biggest challenges. These fall under three distinct themes – illegal markets with threats to integrity, competition, and last but not least, the expansion of our fan base,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“Our sport has shown extreme resilience and the ability to overcome challenges when we focus on what is core to our sport when we work together guided by the Asian Racing Federation’s core objectives. This is the backdrop against which we have prepared the conference’s business programme.”

Mr Andrew Harding, Secretary General, Asian Racing Federation and Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Casper Stylsvig, Executive Director, Sports Business, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Terecina Kwong, Executive Director, Membership and Customer Excellence, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Douglas Robinson, Director, IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime, and Executive Manager, International Illegal Betting Research and Liaison, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Jack Zuber, Senior Manager – Racing Integrity and Betting Analysis, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Chris Riggs; HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation, and Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, will all play prominent roles across the business programme.