News

Thursday, October 26, 2006Contact: Andrew Harding, ARF
+ 61 2 9551-7700
Dubai prepares to host Asian Racing Conference

Anticipation is building with only four months to go until the Dubai-hosted 31st Asian Racing Conference.

More then 100 speakers will contribute to the business sessions, operational sessions and workshops that will be staged over the course of the 5 day conference, including such high profile identities as the best-selling author, Les Carlyon; motivational sports speaker and author, Pat Williams; and Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council.

Les Carlyon is an internationally acclaimed writer whose career has combined multiple award-winning journalism, authorship of best -selling military histories and lyrical sports writing that has seen him dubbed the ‘Damon Runyon’ of his era. The author of Gallipoli, which is a best seller in Australia and Britain; Mr Carlyon has been the editor of The Age, and editor-in-chief of the Herald and Weekly Times Group which publishes Australia’s two leading metropolitan broadsheets.

Pat Williams is the senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. Also one of America’s top motivational and inspirational speakers, Mr Williams has addressed employees from many of the Fortune 500 companies and the Million Dollar Round Table.

Former head of the Australian Cricket Board, Malcolm Speed became cricket’s international supremo when he took the reins as the Chief Executive ICC of the in July 2001. Mr Speed has helped administer the rapid global development of the game and has dealt with a range of issues crucial to the protection of the financial stability of the game, experience that will provide invaluable insights for the internationalisation of racing.

These and a host of other leading identities will engage the audience in a business programme that will address all of the major issues that confront racing in the 21st century, including:

  • achieving international movement of horses to support global racing
  • arriving at the right model for international race series
  • going global: learning from the experiences of other sports
  • legislation to protect racing’s intellectual property
  • a crowded market place: competing with other gambling forms
  • reforming the taxation of wagering
  • international co-mingling of totalisator pools
  • industry occupational health and safety: optimizing the safety of jockeys
  • achieving harmonisation in regulatory approaches
  • the international reciprocation of penalties
  • race programming and planning to entertain our fans
  • planning a racecourse in the 21st century
  • the ‘inventors’ : showcasing new technologies in racing
  • race track design and ergonomics: the potential of synthetic surfaces
  • loyalty programs and prize money models to maximise racehorse ownership
  • picking a winner: showcasing the leading advertising campaigns from around the world
  • breeding for speed – the implications of current trends in racing and breeding
  • use of stem cell technology in racing
  • the cutting-edge advances in equine veterinary science
  • management: achieving the right structure and cultures to deliver increased profitability
  • an international passport: synchronising training programs to obtain the maximum potential from racing’s global work-force.
  • drug control: tacking the issue of sensitivity of analysis.

    The structure of the programme has been designed to allow issues to be explored at both macro and micro level, with business sessions, operational sessions and workshops each individually tailored to not only present expert analysis of contemporary issues but also to maximise audience participation.

    Mr. Saeed H. Al-Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Racing Authority, said, “We are very excited at what looks a very interesting and informative programme for the 31st Asian Racing Conference to be held in Dubai in January.

    “The line up of speakers is inspiring and I am sure that all those attending the Conference will benefit from their experience.”

    Mr. Lawrence T. Wong, Chairman of the Asian Racing Conference, said, “The Asian Racing Conference is the region’s premier gathering of racing professionals. For ARF members it is a great opportunity to benchmark against the best in Asian and world racing, and for our colleagues around the world it is a window into Asia’s fast developing racing industry. With the support of the Emirates Racing Authority, the 31st Conference will undoubtedly be a most productive and memorable event. I look forward to seeing you in Dubai”

    International interest in attending the conference is already growing with registration now available on-line at the official event website www.arcdubai2007.com.

  • For additional information, please visit www.arcdubai2007.com

    E-Mail : aharding@australian-racing.net.au