RSA: Engelbrecht-Bresges praises strong, stimulating discussions at ARC
The 41st Asian Racing Conference (ARC) closed in Riyadh on Thursday, with Asian Racing Federation (ARF) chair and Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges hailing the conference as an enduring success which highlighted the sport’s greatest opportunities and also its challenges.
Praising the work of the conference host, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, and the ARC organising committee, Engelbrecht-Bresges said the ARC’s discussions reiterated the importance of increased collaboration and new technology as key motivators in safeguarding the sport’s future.
“If there is one message that cuts across all our discussions, it is this: the future of horse racing is under threat and can only be secured by working together to address the key challenges we face,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said at the ceremony crowned by the official exchange of the ARC flag to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, host of the 42nd ARC in New Zealand in 2028.
“I firmly believe we now have a mandate for change. We must act now. We must think and cooperate globally and implement nationally.
“At the outset, I highlighted that we are in a critical phase for racing and breeding, and yet fragmentation within our sport is preventing us from tackling the challenges that confront us. I called for global collaboration and the need to make fundamental changes to the way we position, promote and operate our sport.
“Coming back to the Conference itself, we have heard from global experts and leaders, and shared best practices and case studies from around the world, which we hope have been informative.
“We must create heroes, create global competitions where the best meet the best, and create platforms with holistic storytelling to increase our fan base and promote our sport globally. We must use technology to create new digital onsite and online experiences. We must be more agile and embrace global initiatives like the World Pool to better compete against sports betting, iGaming and other entertainment offerings.
“We must continue our investment in science and technology to minimise the risk of catastrophic breakdowns and sudden death. The ARF secretariat will develop an action plan of key activities for the short and medium term, to be discussed at the next executive council meeting. We will then communicate how we take the next steps together.”
At Monday’s opening ceremony, it was announced the Asian Racing Federation has unanimously re-elected Engelbrecht-Bresges as chair of the ARF, a term which runs until the conclusion of the 42nd ARC in New Zealand in 2028.