The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) held the 60th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA) in Paris, France at Le Méridien Paris Arc de Triomphe on 5 October.
Throughout the course of the day, over 150 delegates from about 40 countries heard from leaders from around the globe on the sport’s most pressing issues. This year’s milestone Conference reflected on the major achievements of the IFHA across six decades before focusing on the future of racing worldwide.
The Conference’s keynote address by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, whose Daryz was a repeat winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) the day before, received a standing ovation.
“That horse [Daryz] represents what we do as breeders,” she said. “We are trying preserve the genetic diversity of the families. A horse like Calandagan is probably not something everyone wants to breed at this point in time. It is not necessarily fashionable, but it is necessary.”
She went on to discuss ways to improve the sport, including making it easier for new fans to understand and promoting the amount of care and work that goes into getting horses to the races.
“It’s important for the people in this room to solve the misconceptions in racing,” she said. “Everyone sees the racing part of things, but they don’t see the industry, the number of people employed, and every link in the chain.
“From the covering shed to Longchamp yesterday, that represented literally hundreds of people who had influenced that horse’s life. That is something we need to carry in our hearts, always: the people who are not seen, the people who are not on the racecourse, the people who work behind the scenes.”
Andrew Harding, Executive Director of the IFHA, then presented on the origins and evolution of the IFHA over the past 60 years. Among other topics, he highlighted how racing led human sports on anti-doping including the IFHA’s work to confront gene doping, the development of the International Agreement to shape a harmonised regulatory approach, and the IFHA’s focus on using science and technology to improve equine welfare globally.
“Self-evidently, the challenges and opportunities facing our sport are not static,” said Harding. “They are constantly evolving. So too has the range of the IFHA’s efforts. The ICHA, then the IFHA, created the international architecture that has allowed racing to function as a global sport rather than a collection of separate national sports.”
Following Harding’s presentation, Murray Acklin, former Chair, Asian Racing Federation provided pre-recorded video remarks ahead of a panel discussion which traced major developments throughout the IFHA’s history and the organisation’s impact on racing domestically and internationally.
Harding was joined on the panel by Jim Gagliano, President and COO, The Jockey Club (US) and IFHA Vice-Chair; Brian Kavanagh, CEO, The Curragh and former IFHA Vice-Chair; Simon Cooper, former Vice-Chair, International Stud Book Committee; and Frances Nelson, former Chair, Racing Australia.
IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges then led the second session of the Conference with an address exploring the IFHA’s transition to become a more active global leadership organisation, as well as the major challenges currently facing the sport. Topics he covered included widening the sport’s fanbase, the sustainability of the Thoroughbred, and tackling threats to racing’s funding structure.
“In this time of great social, political and economic uncertainties, and significant challenges to our sport’s relevance and sustainability, it is more important than ever that we unite as an international racing community,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “The future of horse racing can only be secured by working together to address the key challenges that we face, and the IFHA is at the heart of that coordinated, collective action that we must pursue.”
Engelbrecht-Bresges then took part in a panel discussion focused on leading racing toward a strong and sustainable future.
The other panelists were Masayuki Goto, Executive Advisor, Japan Racing Association and IFHA Vice-Chair; Guillaume de Saint-Seine, President, France Galop; Everett Dobson, Chair, The Jockey Club (US); Suzanne Eade, CEO, Horse Racing Ireland; Felicity Barnard, CEO, Ascot; Teddy Grimthorpe, Chair, International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation; and Vee Moodley, CEO, National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa.
To close the Conference, Engelbrecht-Bresges honoured the late Louis Romanet, Chairman Emeritus of the IFHA, who passed away in March.
“Ultimately, the Federation exists because racing authorities recognise that, although our jurisdictions may be different, the future of the sport is a shared responsibility,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “That principle was at the heart of Louis Romanet’s work. Louis will be missed dearly, but his legacy will endure throughout the global racing community that he worked so tirelessly to unite.”
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. The JRA has been the official partner of the Conference since 2021.
A replay of the live video stream and presentations will be available in the coming days.
About IFHA
The IFHA is a federation of more than 60 racing authorities from different countries and regions in the world. It 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
- 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
- Harmonisation of racing rules
- Certification of IFHA reference laboratories
- 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 (WOAH).
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