| Thursday, November 01, 2018 | Contact: Alexa Ravit (212) 521-5307 |
| Fifth Thoroughbred Owner Conference Concludes with Optimism for Racing’s Future | |
The fifth Thoroughbred Owner Conference, co-hosted by OwnerView and BloodHorse and presented by Churchill Downs and Breeders’ Cup, concluded today with presentations on the state of the Thoroughbred industry, aftercare, a panel of Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup-winning jockeys, and resources for owners. Approximately 250 people attended the three-day event, including both longtime horse owners and new or prospective owners. The conference took place at Churchill Downs and the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Ky., and coincided with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be run on Friday, November 2, and Saturday, November 3. Topics covered during the first two days of the conference included business planning, sales, veterinary issues, sports wagering, and state incentive programs. The keynote address was delivered by Jon Miller, the president of programming for NBC Sports. Under Miller’s leadership, NBC Sports Group has significantly expanded its national coverage of horse racing from 23 hours in 2011 to more than 80 hours this year. In his address, Miller talked about NBC’s expansion from the “Home of the Triple Crown” to the “Home of Horse Racing” and branching out to showcasing international racing. “NBC Sports’ legacy is in storytelling,” Miller said. “There’s nothing more iconic in sports than horse racing. It opens itself up to stories, and we have great storytellers.” Miller also talked about the production of horse racing television telecasts and the work involved. “We use 45 to 50 cameras for the Kentucky Derby. A Notre Dame football game gets 12 to 14 cameras. The Kentucky Derby is our most expensive and extensive remote production. It’s an enormous undertaking.” However, Miller said NBC believes in supporting racing. “We have invested heavily in growing the sport. Racing is thrilling and unpredictable.” In addition to the panel sessions, conference goers were able to attend the Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw, the trackside Breakfast Marquee, an evening reception at the Kentucky Derby museum, and a wine and dine dinner. “We were thrilled to bring this year’s Owner Conference to historic Churchill Downs and enable our attendees to learn about ownership at the site of one of the most famous racetracks in the world,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. “We appreciate the support of Churchill Downs and Breeders’ Cup and hope that one of our new owners will one day end up in the Churchill Downs’ winner’s circle on Derby or Breeders’ Cup day.” A video replay of all panels at the conference will be available at ownerview.com within the next week. OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing. The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012. Additional information about OwnerView is available at ownerview.com or by contacting Gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com or 859-224-2803. | |