Boyd Named Keynote Speaker at Symposium on Racing

The University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) is pleased to announce that Randy Boyd, president of the University of Tennessee System and co-owner of Boyd Racing, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Global Symposium on Racing, December 7--9 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. Boyd brings a distinctive perspective to the Thoroughbred industry as an entrepreneur, sports owner and racing investor. Through Boyd Racing, Randy and his wife Jenny are building their presence in Thoroughbred racing while bringing the sport the same entrepreneurial approach that has defined a career in business, sports, and philanthropy. Boyd founded Radio Systems Corporation in 1991, growing the Knoxville-based company into an international business with more than 1,400 employees and a portfolio of well-known pet brands. His passion for sports also led to the creation of Boyd Sports, which owns six Minor League Baseball teams, including the Knoxville Smokies. His experience building and operating sports businesses provides a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing horse racing. Boyd has also spent much of his career focused on education and economic development. He has served as president of the University of Tennessee System since 2018 and previously served as Tennessee commissioner of economic and community development. During his tenure as commissioner, his team helped recruit 52,000 new jobs and $9 billion in new investment to the state. He was also a key architect of Tennessee's Drive to 55 and Tennessee Promise initiatives, which expanded educational opportunities for Tennessee students. Boyd is founder and chairman of tnAchieves, a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 200,000 students attend community college free of tuition and fees. Randy and Jenny Boyd also established the Boyd Foundation in 2018 to support youth education, mental health, the arts and animal welfare. The Boyds' involvement in Thoroughbred racing adds another dimension to their longstanding commitment to sports, business, and community development. Their investment through Boyd Racing reflects an interest in helping build a strong and sustainable future for the sport. "Randy Boyd brings a perspective that is particularly valuable to racing right now," said Robert Hartman, chair of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. "He has built successful businesses, invested in sports and education, and is now investing in and building within Thoroughbred racing. That breadth of experience gives him a unique perspective that can challenge the industry to think differently." The Global Symposium on Racing, hosted annually by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, brings together hundreds of leaders from across the horse racing industry for three days of education, networking and discussion about the future of the sport. For registration and additional information, visit RacingSymposium.com