University of Arizona

No industry gathering at which Thoroughbred executives discuss pricing issues is immune from the intertwined topic of death and taxes. In the pari-mutuel world, that means talking about takeout, or, more specifically, how the disparate fees that different classes of bettors must pay for the privilege of placing wagers are killing off smaller-scale casual horseplayers. A Wednesday panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson was the latest Thoroughbred confab at which the takeout issue got batted around...

Technological changes on the immediate horizon for the racing industry won't be so much of the gee-whiz or sci-fi variety. Instead, they'll be more like much-needed ease-of-use and cumbersome-task-simplifying tools that are currently being built and driven by massive collections of data. Tuesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson kicked off with Lisa Lazarus, the chief executive officer of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), articulating a significant data point--that as of Dec. 10, 2024, the fatality rate of...

Trainer Ken McPeek, who campaigned GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), will be awarded the 2024 Big Sport of Turfdom award, the Turf Publicists of America announced Monday. The award, which recognizes a person who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media, will be presented at the University of Arizona Race Track Program's annual awards luncheon held Dec. 10. "Ken and his team have had an outstanding year with multiple triumphs on not only our sport's biggest stage...

The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Global Symposium on Racing, to be held Dec. 9-11, will be streamed online, making the conference accessible to those who cannot attend in person. Roberts Communication Network (RCN) will stream the event via the Racetrack Television Network (RTN), with all proceeds from the sale going back to the RTIP. "We are very excited to once again stream the Symposium through our RCN and RTN partnership," said RTIP Chair Robert Hartman. "As we approach our milestone 50th Symposium, we continue to see...

Edited Press Release Speakers have been announced for the 50th annual Global Symposium on Racing, taking place from December 9-11, 2024, at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. For a complete agenda and a list of speakers, please visit RacingSymposium.com. The event brings together racing industry executives from around the world to delve into critical issues and emerging trends across the three racing breeds. The 2024 Symposium will feature a compelling lineup of topics vital to racing industry stakeholders, including:   Artificial Intelligence: Transformative Applications for Advancing Horse Racing Investing...

Two board members from the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) warmed up their vocal chords and shared a sliver of their vast expertise concerning the value of racing integrity teams during a panel at the Global Symposium on Racing, sponsored by the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program, this past week. Don Ahrens of Sam Houston Race Park and Jason Klouser of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission explained how these special squads, working alongside agencies like the Breeders' Cup, the U.S. Trotting Association, the American Quarter Horse Association...

A panel about racetrack closures in the prime afternoon time slot on the first day of Tuesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) in Tucson had the potential to be a somber and eulogistic affair, but it did yield some interesting back-and-forth when the discussion turned to how the industry might best stem the tide of Thoroughbred venues going dark for good. The topic "Land For Sale. How Will Race Track Closures Impact the Industry's Long-Term Sustainability?" elicited some of the...

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...

Over 60 speakers will present at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program's 49th annual Global Symposium on Racing, scheduled for Dec. 4-6 at Lowes Ventana Canyon in Tuscon. The event brings together racing industry executives from around the world to explore critical issues and trends across the three racing breeds. Panels at the 2023 Symposium will include:   Computer Assisted Wagering--The Good, The Bad, and The Future Out of the Shadows--Shining a Spotlight on Mental Health and Emotional Wellness The Path Forward--Race Track Safety and the Anti-Doping &...

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...

As a junior he wound up in the same fraternity as a guy named Bob Baffert, who was already riding winners, already conspicuous. Eric Kruljac, for his part, had transferred to University of Arizona from Arizona State, where he had been on a football scholarship only to blow a knee. Then, when Baffert proceeded to stardom at the racetrack, Kruljac literally went undercover. He worked for a buddy as a private investigator until, having learned the ropes, starting an agency of his own. For several years you'd find him tailing...

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...