MONDAY, December 8
9:30-11:00 am | Salon J & K
Management Decision Making to Support the Track Superintendent
9:30-11:00 am | Salon L
Racing’s New Reality: A Management Workshop on Human/AI Collaboration
9:30-11:30 am | Salon E & F
ARCI Model Rules Meeting
11:00 am-Noon | Executive Boardroom
From Legal Disputes to Consensus: Expanding the Continuum of Options in Dispute Resolution
11:00 am-2:30 pm | Salon J & K
5th Annual Racing Secretary Summit
1:00-5:00 pm | Salon L
Calm, Clear, Credible: Responding When Racing’s Under Fire (Media Training Workshop)
$50 pre-registration required
2:00-3:00 pm | Executive Boardroom
Tote Q&A: Data Safety, Security, and the Future of Racing Wagers
3:00-4:00 pm | Sabino
Systems Biomechanics of the Horse: Advancing Equine Athletic Research
3:00-5:00 pm | Salon E & F
HISA/HIWU Workshop
4:00-5:00 pm | Sabino
The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century
5:00-6:00 pm | Exhibit Area
Opening Networking Reception
TUESDAY, December 9
Welcome & Keynote Address
Reinventing Racing’s Business Model: Lessons from State Battles and Policy Shifts
As traditional revenue streams erode and competition intensifies, racing’s long-standing business model is under unprecedented strain. States across the country are confronting this reality in very different ways—some building collaborative reforms, others struggling with stalled policy battles, and still others shaping national precedent through the courts. This session brings together leaders and insiders to share on-the-ground insights from key case studies from a cross-section of states including Florida, Maryland, Kentucky, and Iowa.
- Lonny Powell – CEO, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association
- David Richardson – Executive Director, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association
- Damon Thayer – Owner/President, Thayer Communications & Consulting LLC
- Moderator: Mark Simendinger – Title, Company
The Sustainability Algorithm: Balancing CAW Growth with Racing's Long-Term Health
The pari-mutuel landscape has fundamentally shifted. Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) and high-frequency betting algorithms now compete alongside traditional handicappers in North America's racing pools, creating unprecedented challenges for the sport's sustainability and its relationship with everyday horseplayers. While professional betting has always existed in racing, today's CAW operations process thousands of wagers per second, leveraging sophisticated algorithms and rebate structures that can fundamentally alter market dynamics. This technological evolution raises critical questions: Are current market structures serving all participants fairly? How do rebating programs affect pool integrity and the betting experience for recreational players? What guardrails, if any, should racing operators implement?
- Scott Daruty – President, Monarch Content Management & Elite Turf Club
- Dr. Marshall Gramm – Professor of Economics, Rhodes College
- David O’Rourke – President & CEO, The New York Racing Association
- Maury Wolff – Retired Professional Gambler
- Moderator: Pat Cummings – Executive Director, National Thoroughbred Alliance (NTA)
Building the Future of Racing: Major Construction Projects Transforming America’s Tracks
From New York to Maryland to Kentucky, a wave of ambitious construction projects is redefining the landscape of American horse racing. This panel brings together industry leaders at the forefront of these efforts to share how strategic design decisions, innovative fan experiences, sustainability initiatives, and cutting-edge amenities are shaping the tracks of tomorrow. Panelists will also explore the financial blueprints behind these developments, from public-private partnerships and municipal bond financing to the role of historical horse racing (HHR) machines in turning visionary plans into reality.
- Todd Gralla – Director of Equestrian Services, Populous
- Bill Knauf – President & General Manager, The Maryland Jockey Club Inc.
- Larry Lucas – Chairman, Revolutionary Racing
- Andrew Offerman – Sr. Vice President of Racing & Operations, The New York Racing Association
- Moderator: Alan Foreman – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations, Inc.
Luncheon, Awards and Presentations
The Winningest Symposium Panel in Racing History: 24,450 Victories. One Stage.
Four of the sport’s most celebrated jockeys will share one stage, bringing with them a legacy that spans more than six decades of Thoroughbred racing excellence. These Hall of Fame legends will reflect on the strategic decisions made in the heat of competition, the physical and mental resilience required to stay at the top, and the unique bonds forged with trainers, owners, and the horses that carried them to glory. Through personal stories and defining moments, they will reveal the lessons learned in the saddle and the values that have endured beyond the finish line. This rare, once-in-a-lifetime conversation honoring racing’s past promises to inspire and entertain.
- Steve Cauthen – Hall of Fame Jockey
- Ramon Dominguez – Hall of Fame Jockey
- Chris McCarron – Hall of Fame Jockey
- Laffit Pincay Jr. – Hall of Fame Jockey
- Moderator: Jay Hovdey – National Columnist, Bloodhorse Publications
International Tote Protocol Meeting
Riding Together: Supporting Mental Wellness in Racing
The pressures of horse racing extend far beyond the track. Long hours, physical risk, intense competition, and emotional demands take a heavy toll on the mental well-being of jockeys, trainers, grooms, and all industry professionals. This candid, solutions-focused panel brings together industry voices and mental health advocates to explore these challenges, share personal journeys, and highlight resources for support. Innovative programs like Horses For Mental Health harness the healing power of horses to provide therapeutic care and emotional support. Panelists will address stigma, access to care, and strategies to foster a healthier, more compassionate culture within the sport and beyond.
- Trevor McCarthy – Retired Professional Jockey
- Sally Mixon – Executive Director, Abijah’s Hope
- Tasha Saunders – VP of Operations, OnRise
- Lynn Thomas – Co-Founder/President, Horses for Mental Health
- Moderator: Bailey Armour – Marketing Manager, 1/ST Technology
Evening Networking Reception
WEDNESDAY, December 10
Welcome & RTIP Senior Capstone Presentation
- Nathan Klein – RTIP Student
Racing’s Success Stories - The Year in Review
Texas Horse Society - Attracting Young Executives to the Track
- Ian Cummings – Founder & CEO, Third Time Games
- Bryan Pettigrew – Vice President and General Manager of Texas Racing Operations
HISA & Legislative Update
Wagering 2.0: Prediction Markets, Sweepstakes, and the Regulatory Shakeup of Traditional Betting Models
The betting landscape is undergoing a seismic shift with the rise of prediction markets, sweepstakes and other platforms challenging traditional wagering models. Under the regulatory oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), prediction markets have potential to overshadow sports and horse racing betting. This panel dives deep into how emerging platforms are disrupting existing betting markets and the ongoing legal actions aiming to protect existing operators. Join industry leaders for a candid discussion on navigating the delicate balance of the regulatory frameworks.
- Dustin Gouker – Principal, The Closing Line Newsletter
- Andrew Kim – Partner, Goodwin Proctor
- Moderator: Michele Fischer
Strength in Numbers: Innovative Approaches to Boosting U.S. Thoroughbred Breeding
As the Thoroughbred foal crop continues to decline across the United States, the numbers outside of Kentucky are particularly alarming, with many states experiencing steep and unsustainable drops in breeding activity. This panel brings together diverse voices from across the industry to confront these challenges head-on and explore bold, practical solutions. From innovative incentive programs to policy reforms, the discussion will highlight models that can reinvigorate regional breeding programs. Special focus will be given to multi-state efforts, including case studies in the midwest and southwest that demonstrate how collaboration across regulatory lines could create new opportunities and reverse downward trends. Attendees will gain insight into how unified efforts, smart incentives, and out-of-the-box thinking can help secure the future of Thoroughbred breeding and racing across the country.
- Harris Auerbach – Managing Partner, Auerbach Racing
- Jamie Haydon – Deputy Executive Director, The Jockey Club
- Diana McClure – Board Member, Virginia Thoroughbred Association
- Mike Tanner – Executive Vice President & CEO, United States Trotting Association
- Ismael Trejo – Executive Director, New Mexico Racing Commission
- Moderator: Paul Ryneveld – Director, Horse Racing Alberta & Co-Founder, 10Acres Solutions
Mentor Luncheon (by invitation)
Turf Publicists of American Mark Kaufman Workshop
From Run-Ups to Reliability: Fixing Timing Accuracy in U.S. Racing
Horse racing’s deep-rooted legacy also brings complex challenges. Practices like “run ups,” a wide range of starting gate positions, and race lengths that can vary by several feet or even yards, create a sport that is uniquely difficult to measure and analyze compared to global standards. At the center of the issue is timing and tracking. GPS remains the industry’s primary tool, yet it is widely acknowledged as imprecise. Building wagering platforms, fan products, and integrity measures on a shaky foundation raises real risks for racing’s future. As competition for attention and trust intensifies, with other sports setting ever-higher benchmarks for accuracy and transparency, racing cannot afford to fall behind. With so much betting revenue reliant on reliable data, strengthening timing and measurement systems is not just a technical upgrade; it is an urgent step to protect integrity, build confidence, and secure long-term growth. This panel will delve into practical solutions to improve racing data and bettor confidence.
- Kyle McDoniel – TrackMaster/Equibase
- Craig Milkowski – Timing Analyst
- Greg Pachman – Title/Company
- Moderator: Randy Moss – NBC Sports
Closing Reception
Agenda subject to change