University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program

The Mark Thurman Endowed Scholarship in Racing has been established at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) due to a donation from CHRIMS, a "not-for-profit, mutual benefits organization focused on providing technology solutions for the pari-mutuel gaming industry." CHRIMS made the donation to honor Mark Thurman's contributions to the racing industry upon his retirement as CEO. "Mark dedicated over three decades to building his vision of CHRIMS from a set of spreadsheets into a unique and powerful service critical to the operation of California racing," said Gunner...

Registration is now open for the Global Symposium on Racing, which will be held Dec. 5-7 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Now in its 48th year, the Symposium is the world's largest racing conference attracting top industry professionals who gather to discuss racing's challenges and opportunities. A full agenda of topics and speakers will be released later this summer. The Symposium offers an opportunity to network with colleagues and interact with industry peers; all while supporting the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). This year, all RTIP alumni...

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...

Michael Weiss, a longtime racing industry professional with deep ties to Arizona horse racing, has been named the new General Manager at Arizona Downs. Weiss will lead preparations to restore the track and operate the 2021 return of live racing to the Prescott Valley facility. He most recently served as General Manager of Rillito Park Racetrack in Tucson and is well-known for pioneering the PRISE educational program for the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program. He is also a former student in the RTIP and currently serves as a...

The Race Track Industry Program has announced the addition of Phil O'Hara to its faculty at the University of Arizona. "Phil, an RTIP alum, is incredibly well-versed in all areas of racing and brings a wealth of knowledge to the students. We could not be more pleased to welcome him back to the program," said Wendy Davis, Director of the Race Track Industry Program. O'Hara is currently the president of P.T. O'Hara, Jr. Services, Inc. a consulting, strategic planning, and project management organization. Previous positions held include, President and CEO...