Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: July 19, 2021
The 69th Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing scheduled for Aug. 15 will cover topics including Thoroughbred aftercare opportunities and challenges, using data to market the sport to the public, race-tracking technology, and steps to improve the integrity of the sport, The Jockey Club said.
The event will be held virtually for the second consecutive year. It will be streamed on The Jockey Club’s website at jockeyclub.com at 10 a.m. EDT and be aired on the New York Racing Association YouTube channel, the FOX Sports app, and Racetrack Television Network’s respective platforms. Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney III will preside over the conference.
Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and administrator of The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program, will moderate an aftercare panel that will discuss issues in the current aftercare landscape and programs in development to address them. Panelists are Erin Crady, Executive Director of Thoroughbred Charities of America; Brian Sanfratello, Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association; Beverly Strauss, Executive Director of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; and Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of Equine Welfare for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Dr. Yuval Neria, a professor of clinical medical psychology at Columbia University Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, and Director of Trauma and PTSD at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, will talk about the Man O’War Project. The Man O’War Project, founded by Ambassador Earle Mack, was the first university-led research study to examine the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy in treating veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Emily Lyman, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Branch & Bramble, a digital marketing agency utilized by America’s Best Racing, will detail how her organization analyzes data to assess and react to public sentiment, build brand trust, and develop fans. Will Duff Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Total Performance Data, will provide an overview of TPD’s timing products, its work with Equibase Company’s Gmax system, and potential opportunities for TPD in the areas of sports betting, fixed odds, and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.
Charles Scheeler and Dr. Tessa Muir will provide an update on HISA, which was signed into law at the end of 2020. Scheeler, Chairman of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Board of Directors, is a retired partner at DLA Piper and his background includes serving as lead counsel to former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell in connection with his independent investigation of performance-enhancing substance use in Major League Baseball. Muir, the former anti-doping manager at the British Horseracing Authority who has served as a regulatory veterinarian at Racing Victoria, joined the United States Anti-Doping Agency in March to assist with the implementation of HISA and facilitate a smooth transition to the new regulatory structure that will exist as a result of HISA.
David O’Rourke, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Racing Association, will discuss NYRA’s investment in its facilities, expanded television coverage, and NYRA Bets, its national advance deposit wagering platform. James Gagliano, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Jockey Club, will deliver a report on the activities of The Jockey Club.
The full agenda and biographies of all speakers will be posted on jockeyclub.com in advance of the conference.