Robert Hartman

Oaklawn Park President Louis Cella will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 Global Symposium on Racing at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort this December. Under Cella's leadership, Oaklawn has consistently expanded its racing footprint by lengthening the racing schedule, building a $100-million casino/hotel and by introducing fan-friendly entertainment options, leading to increased attendance and handle. "Under Mr. Cella's leadership, Oaklawn expanded their racing season into December while keeping both their on-track and simulcasting business strong," said Robert Hartman, Race Track Industry Program Chair. "Their racing product continues to strengthen as...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be honored with the 2023 Clay Puett Award, the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program announced Wednesday. "Since its founding, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has been at the forefront of equine welfare," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "Their impactful work, alongside their accredited organizations, has significantly elevated our industry by successfully transitioning Thoroughbred athletes to new homes and fulfilling careers." Founded in 2012, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance operates through a comprehensive process of accreditation, inspection, and the awarding of grants to approved aftercare organizations....

The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Global Symposium on Racing, scheduled for Dec. 4 - 6, 2023, will be streamed live online, so that those unable to attend the conference in person will still be able to watch the panel sessions. Roberts Communications Network (RCN) will make the stream available on the Racetrack Television Network (RTN), with all proceeds from the sales going back to the RTIP. "Every year, the Global Symposium on Racing brings together the international racing community to discuss the most important topics in...

The Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona has announced the line-up of panel sessions and workshops for its upcoming 49th annual Global Symposium on Racing, scheduled to take place from Dec. 4-6 at Loews Ventana Canyon. "The broad cross-section of North American and international participants, representing all pari-mutuel racing breeds, makes the Global Symposium on Racing the largest industry-wide conference in the world," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "The panel discussions and workshops, along with networking functions, allow for unique knowledge sharing opportunities." The 2023 Symposium will...

Officially sold out, the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) opens its 27th annual training conference with a reception for attendees on Sunday evening at the Lodge in the Desert in Tucson, Arizona. The ORI Conference includes a dozen speaker sessions scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, as presenters cover a variety of topics, including money laundering, regulatory oversight, medications, ethics, the media, human trafficking, licensing, drugs and alcohol on the backstretch, employee retention and barn surveillance. The final speaker on Tuesday will be Shawn Loehr, Director of Investigative Operations for the...

Money laundering, licensing, ethics, the relationship between the investigator and the media, human trafficking, an overview of Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) and an in-depth case study at Rillito Park Racetrack are just some of the session topics that the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will cover during their 2023 conference, which will be held from Sunday, Feb. 26 to Wednesday, Mar. 1 at the University of Arizona and The Lodge on the Desert in Tucson. True to form, the agenda, which was announced Thursday, places a strong emphasis...

The Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will convene its annual training conference for specialists with a reception Sunday Feb. 26, 2023 in Tucson. Hosted by the University of Arizona, which is home to the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the event brings together members from the U.S. and Canada, but also an international contingent of investigators and security personnel from Europe and South Africa that will participate in a series of sessions over the course of Monday Feb. 27 and Tuesday Feb. 28. A membership administrative meeting will take place...

The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Global Symposium on Racing will be streamed live online by Roberts Communications Network (RCN) on the Racetrack Television Network (RTN). All proceeds from the sales will revert to the RTIP. "We are thrilled to once again stream the Symposium to a global audience," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "While we are expecting a large group of industry attendees, we also understand that travel may not be possible for some, and feel it is important to make these panel sessions available to...

The 47th annual University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Global Symposium on Racing, to be held in Tucson Dec. 6-8, will be streamed live online for the first time. Roberts Communications Network (RCN) will make the live streaming package, which will include archived sessions of each panel, available for $195 on Racetrack Television Network (RTN), with all proceeds from the sales going back to the RTIP. "We are thrilled to stream the symposium to a global audience for the first time," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "While there...

Robert Hartman has been named the new chair of the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program. A graduate of the program himself, Hartman has held marketing and management positions at the New York Racing Association, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. His previous experience also includes serving as the Associate Athletic Director at the University of California, Berkeley and CEO of the American Contract Bridge League. "A traditional on-campus four-year education experience may not be the right fit for some prospective RTIP students," Hartman said. "We need to...