The 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Japan, over the past week has been a resounding success, addressing the challenges and opportunities facing horse racing and also reinforcing the need for unity and harmonisation across our sport.
More than 800 delegates from more than 40 nations and regions enjoyed an enriching and challenging Business Programme featuring 52 speakers with backgrounds in equine safety, integrity, fan engagement, science, thoroughbred breeding, participant wellbeing and inclusivity as well as champion jockeys and trainers.
Over the past few days, we have witnessed a great convergence of minds, talents and passions, all dedicated to the sustainable and collective advancement of thoroughbred racing and breeding.
The Conference thoroughly addressed the four most pressing challenges racing faces as a sport – industry fragmentation, social acceptability, the growth of illegal and offshore operators and the sport’s long-term commercial sustainability.
These are all significant issues but they are far from insurmountable, particularly if we can work together and, fittingly for a Conference branded ‘Be Connected. Stride Together’, I believe racing has never been so engaged and so determined in seeking to proactively address these challenges in a more unified and holistic way.
I must say I was very impressed with the passion, enthusiasm, engagement and dedication of all the attendees, who were treated to tremendous presentations across the nine Business Programme sessions.
Our objective for this Conference was to take a deep dive into what is being done globally to tackle racing’s biggest issues and what this means for the sport’s future. We wanted delegates to gain a greater understanding of how innovation and change are being implemented across racing and other sports.
Having talked to many of the delegates over the week, the Conference is seen as a great success and very important in the eyes of the participants. I want to thanks all attendees for their enthusiasm, engagement and dedication. Your energy brought the Conference to life.
There was an appreciation – and a distinct sense of positivity – at the Conference given some of the major developments achieved, particularly across the Asian Racing Federation footprint, notably the continued growth of racing in the Gulf region and the re-establishment of horse exports from South Africa to Europe.
As positive as those advances have been, it has never been more important for passionate racing participants to gain a greater understanding of how innovation and change are being implemented across racing and nowhere is innovation and collaboration more vital than in wagering, which is at a tipping point globally.
This is due to the rising cost of living pressures and the over-regulation and over-taxation faced by many jurisdictions – coupled with the continued rapid growth of illegal and offshore gambling operators – affecting legal markets as never before, so we must strive to work together.
To take back our fair share of the wagering market, we must promote the tote and reach of World Pool to protect racing from illegal betting and other sports wagering.
Another critically important topic under discussion this week was the need to fully understand our customers – and to focus on what they really want – which was highlighted during a session on the consumer and fan habits, while the amazing story of Australian champion Winx, who is the subject of a movie, again reinforced that engaging stories about racing’s heroes show the very best of our sport to the world and these are powerful tools we can leverage.
I wish to sincerely thank the Japan Racing Association (JRA) – particularly Mr Masayoshi Yoshida and Mr Masayuki Goto, and the ARC Organising Committee for its exceptional work in helping make the ARC a wonderful success, while moderator David Eades again did a superb job, as well as the brilliant speakers who shared such fascinating insights.
It is fitting that Sapporo – which sits at the gateway to the heartland of Japan’s world-renowned thoroughbred breeding industry – should host this Conference.
Sapporo is a beautiful city and our friends at the JRA have done an incredible job with their organisation and hospitality. In particular, the social and cultural evening was a great success at the world-famous Sapporo Dome.
Conference guests were able to delve into Japanese culture with various displays, including origami and calligraphy, while the projection mapping, laser shows and fireworks were truly spectacular and I congratulate and thank the JRA for their efforts.
Equally, the opening and closing ceremonies were brilliant successes, along with the Conference’s bureau meetings which allowed guests from many different jurisdictions to gather to discuss important issues.
Following the official announcement that the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia will host the 41st Conference in Riyadh in 2026, I am confident the ARC – which is the largest horse racing convention in the world – will continue to positively shape and influence our sport.
I have every confidence His Royal Highness Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal and his wonderful team will do a fantastic job in making the 41st Conference in Riyadh a success.
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