The International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA) was held in Paris on Monday (7 October) with a particular focus on integrity, which is racing’s most fundamental pillar.
Integrity sits at the heart of horse racing and it is critical that we reinforce the importance of integrity, not only in our sport, but also in other sports, and fully commit to continue uplifting integrity standards across all sports.
The 58th conference coincided with the highly anticipated release of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Racing Integrity Handbook, the first of its kind in the sport, at a time when integrity has never been more important.
The proliferation of illegal betting operators means no sport is immune to the scourge of illicit operators, many of whom are linked to organised crime figures, and the Conference heard from a host of notable integrity leaders across racing and other major sports with insightful and constructive addresses.
Frank Clarke, Director of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and Former Chief Justice of Ireland, delivered the keynote speech regarding the need for robust systems that protect against legal challenges and issues.
Among the other leading speakers to feature were Susan Ahern, Arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and former Head of Legal and Legislative Affairs at World Rugby; Brett Clothier, Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU); Jenni Kennedy, Senior Director of Investigations at the International Tennis Integrity Agency and Andrew Adams, Partner at international law firm Steptoe.
The conference also heard from racing integrity leaders including Andrew Harding, Executive Director of the IFHA; Marc Van Gestel, Chief Stipendiary Steward at The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Jamie Stier, Executive General Manager Integrity Services at Racing Victoria; Cliodhna Guy, Head of Governance and Legal of the IHRB; Brant Dunshea, Chief Regulatory Officer at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA); and Martin Purbrick, Chair of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime.
As IFHA Chairman I look forward to collaborating further with my colleagues in a meaningful and productive way as we seek to bolster integrity measures to safeguard our great sport.
While in Paris, IFHA delegates had the opportunity to attend the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at Parislongchamp on Sunday (6 October) and watch BLUESTOCKING win Europe’s most coveted G1 staying contest. Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, BLUESTOCKING was supplemented as a late entry into the race for a fee of €120,000 (approx. HK$1 million) before giving Juddmonte Farms its seventh win in the race.
The race was run on very soft ground and Rossa’s brilliant ride from barrier three proved decisive in BLUESTOCKING holding off the impressive three-year-olds AVENTURE and LOS ANGELES. It was a fantastic day of racing with KINROSS finishing second in the G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) for Hong Kong owner Mr Marc Chan.
On a more sombre note, I would like to convey my best wishes to Trainee Apprentice Jockey Ivy Lam, who was injured in a race fall at Gawler Racecourse in South Australia on Monday (7 October). Our thoughts are with Ivy and her family after this most unfortunate incident.
The Club will offer all necessary support to Ivy, who is being supported by her family and the Club’s Head of Racing Talent Training and Headmistress, Apprentice Jockeys’ School Amy Chan, who has travelled to Adelaide to lend her assistance to Ivy and her family.
I would like to thank Racing South Australia for their ongoing support at this time and express my appreciation to the specialist medical and ambulance teams for their care and treatment of Ivy.
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