10.30 am

Opening by IFHA Chair   

IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will welcome members, key stakeholders, and media, and begin to spotlight the work undertaken by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Master of Ceremonies  

Rishi Persad is one of the most recognised and well-established broadcasters in the UK. He has covered a number of major international events across many sports including golf, tennis, cricket, snooker and horse racing.

He has represented major television networks at The US Masters, The Open Championship, The Ryder Cup, Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Commonwealth Games, the World Snooker Championship and recently appeared at his sixth consecutive Olympic Games for the BBC in Paris.

10.55 am

Keynote Address 

• 
• Ben Cleminson
  CEO, Square in the Air

To complement the racing industry voices featured throughout the day, the Conference will feature a keynote address from Ben Cleminson, CEO of Square in the Air, who is involved in the growth and innovation of sport/wagering companies.

Square in the Air is an award-winning creative marketing consulting agency for racing and other sports, betting, and online gaming across the UK, Europe, and Asia. The company provides services in relation to performance marketing, video and content production, media relations and PR, social media and influencers, sponsorship and ambassadors, and design and branding.

11.20 am

Session 1: Racing Wagering & Marketing – What Today’s Customers Want and What the Future Holds 

• 
• Felicity Barnard
  CEO, Ascot Racecourse
•  
• 
• Drew Fleming
  President and CEO, Breeders’ Cup Ltd
•  
• 
• Tony Allevato
  Chief Revenue Officer and President, NYRA Bets
•  
• 
• Atsushi Kikuta
  Director of International Affairs, Japan Racing Association
•  
• 
• Pablo Kavulakian
  President, American Racing Channel

This session will explore the dynamic landscape of horse racing wagering and marketing, examining how technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviours are reshaping the industry. Leaders from racing and betting will discuss how digitalization and new technologies are enhancing the customer experience, from real-time data and AI-driven insights to integrated mobile platforms.

As sports betting continues its rapid growth, the discussion will address:

• how its rise is influencing racing’s betting ecosystem;
• competition for the gambling dollar – how can racing survive (and thrive) against sports betting and illegal gambling?;
• strategies to keep racing relevant in an evolving marketplace – how can racing attract younger fans and keep existing fans more engaged through innovative change?

It will comprise short presentations followed by a panel discussion / Q&A session.

1:00 pm

Lunch

2:15 pm

Presentation of the 41st Asian Racing Conference (Saudi Arabia)

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia will present an overview of the 41st Asian Racing Conference, set to take place in Riyadh in February 2026. The presentation will cover the planned week of events, including key sessions in the business programme, social activities, and racing hospitality. Organized in collaboration with the Asian Racing Federation, the Conference will bring together industry leaders to discuss the future of racing while showcasing Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the global racing landscape.

2:30 pm

Session 2: Growth of the Illegal Betting Market and Tackling Challenges in Betting Regulation

• 
• Brant Dunshea
  Acting CEO, British Horseracing Authority
•  
• 
• Luca Esposito
  Executive Director, World Lottery Associatione
•  
• 
• Martin Purbrick
  Chair, IFHA Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Crime
•  
• 
• Vincent Ven
  Head of Anti-Match-Fixing, UEFA
•  
• 
• Tom Chignell
  Consultant on Integrity Projects, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

This session will explore the huge growth of illegal betting on racing (and other sports), which continues to outstrip growth in the regulated market, and what that means for racing’s future. It will also examine the impacts of tighter government controls on gambling, with discussions on how measures such as betting tax, advertising restrictions and affordability checks are reshaping the wagering landscape for racing and further fuelling the illegal betting market. Panelists will also investigate risk levels associated with illegal racing betting and online gambling (e.g. casino games) as compared to legal wagering on racing.

It will comprise short presentations followed by a panel discussion / Q&A session.

4:10 pm

Closing