IFHA Conference to be Livestreamed Oct. 6

The open forum of the 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), will be available on the IFHA's website (ifhaonline.org) beginning at approximately 10:30 CEST (GMT+1) on Monday 6 October via live stream. Additionally, a replay of the Conference will be posted in the days following the event. This year's Conference will highlight the IFHA's achievements over the past 12 months and look ahead to future initiatives. Sports television presenter Rishi Persad will moderate the event, which will place particular emphasis on racing betting--both legal and illegal--as well as marketing and customer experience. IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will deliver the Conference's opening and closing remarks. The Conference will feature a keynote address from a prominent executive involved in the growth and innovation of sport/wagering companies. Ben Cleminson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Square in the Air, an award-winning creative marketing consulting agency for racing and other sports across Europe and Asia. The company provides services in relation to performance marketing; video and content production; media relations and public relations; social media and influencers; sponsorship and ambassadors; and design and branding. The first session of the Conference will be Racing Wagering & Marketing—What Today's Customers Want and What the Future Holds. Comprised of short presentations followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session, this session will explore the dynamic landscape of horse racing wagering and marketing while examining how technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors are reshaping the industry. Speakers scheduled to take part include Tony Allevato, Chief Revenue Officer and president, NYRA Bets; Felicity Barnard, CEO, Ascot Racecourse; Drew Fleming, president and CEO, Breeders' Cup Ltd; Pablo Kavulakian, president, American Racing Channel; and Atsushi Kikuta, director of International Affairs, Japan Racing Association (JRA). The afternoon session of the Conference will be Growth of the Illegal Betting Market and Tackling Challenges in Betting Regulation. Speakers on this panel will discuss the immense growth of illegal betting on racing (and other sports) and also examine the impacts of tighter government controls on gambling. Speakers scheduled to take part include Tom Chignell, consultant on Integrity Projects, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Brant Dunshea, acting CEO, British Horseracing Authority; Luca Esposito, executive director, World Lottery Association; Martin Purbrick, chair of the IFHA Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Crime; and Vincent Ven, head of Anti-Match-Fixing, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The full agenda can be found here. 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. In 2024, the Conference convened delegates from about 40 different countries, with a number of other racing executives and media members in attendance.