| Thursday, April 25, 2019 | Contact: Andrew Chesser (859) 224-2741 |
| IFAR set for Oslo, Norway, at the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation General Assembly | |
The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) will hold its third conference on racehorse aftercare on Thursday, May 16, in conjunction with the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s (EMHF) General Assembly at Øvrevoll Racetrack in Oslo, Norway. Previously, the lFAR conference was held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2018 alongside the Asian Racing Conference, and in Washington, D.C., in 2017 in conjunction with the Pan American Conference. This year’s forum will feature two case studies from Greece and France, countries that have recently established aftercare programmes. Dr. Niki Markogianni of Hippolysis Equine Therapy Center will represent Greece, and Alix Choppin of Au-Delà Des Pistes will speak on behalf of France. Paul Jepson of the United Kingdom’s Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) will offer his perspectives on equine welfare, while RoR’s Richard Ramsay will lead an open forum on the versatility of Thoroughbreds for use in other equestrian disciplines. James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club (U.S.), said, “IFAR conferences are increasingly providing racing jurisdictions across the globe with a forum to better understand the welfare needs of Thoroughbreds and their aftercare requirements. I look forward to sharing progress that has been made by IFAR over the past two years as well as learning about welfare strategies that are working in Europe.” Gagliano and Andrew Chesser, secretary general of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, will lead a discussion on challenges facing racing’s regulators when it comes to aftercare. Chesser will serve as the conference’s emcee. Di Arbuthnot, the chief executive of RoR and chair of the IFAR steering group, will present an “aftercare toolkit” to provide practical strategies for racing authorities. “We are excited to be bringing the third IFAR conference to the European region, and we thank the EMHF for inviting us as part of their annual general assembly,” said Arbuthnot. “We are also grateful to the Norwegian Jockey Club for the use of their facilities at Øvrevoll Racetrack.” Diana Cooper, strategic advisor of charities for Godolphin, will conclude the conference with a discussion on owners’ responsibility in aftercare. “We are delighted to welcome the EMHF and IFAR to Norway,” said Thomas Gjelsås, administrerende direktør, Øvrevoll Galopp. “Aftercare is a critical issue in the horse racing industry on a global scale, and this year’s forum is sure to spark lively discussions about the subject that will benefit racing jurisdictions around the world.” Notes for Editors: For more information on IFAR, visit: internationalracehorseaftercare.com IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries and is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. Working with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, IFAR will raise awareness of the importance of welfare for Thoroughbreds, improve education on lifetime care, and help increase demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports. The 2019 IFAR conference is hosted by the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federations (EMHF) and supported by The Norwegian Jockey Club, Godolphin, and The Jockey Club (U.S.). | |