Wednesday, November 01, 2017 | Contact: Shannon Luce (859) 224-2716 |
Fourth Thoroughbred Owner Conference Concludes with Emphasis on a Passion for the Sport | |
The fourth Thoroughbred Owner Conference, co-hosted by OwnerView and BloodHorse, concluded today with presentations on the experiences of turf writers, the claiming game, and veterinary issues. Approximately 235 people attended the three-day event, including both longtime horse owners and new or prospective owners. The conference took place at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar in Del Mar, California, to coincide with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be run on Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4. As did owner conferences of prior years, this edition featured panel discussions with prominent owners, trainers, jockeys, and other personalities. Topics covered during the first two days of the conference included breeding and sales, syndicates, legal matters, and women in racing. The keynote address was delivered by Jeff Fager, the executive producer of “60 Minutes” and a Thoroughbred owner. In his address, Fager shared his experiences in the Thoroughbred industry, which started with his working for trainer John Nerud when he was in high school and continues today with his Fager Stable. “Fager Stable is small but hopeful,” Fager said. “It is one of the most fun adventures of my life.” He also spoke about his career at “60 Minutes” and how important credibility and integrity are to the show. In addition to the panel sessions, conference goers were able to attend the Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw, the trackside Breakfast Marquee, and a wine and dine that featured a Q&A session with guest speaker Laura Hillenbrand, the author of the bestsellers “Seabiscuit: An American Legend” and “Unbroken.” On Wednesday afternoon, attendees enjoyed lunch and an afternoon of racing at Del Mar. “Since the first Owner Conference was held in 2015, this event has continued to educate new, prospective, and existing owners alike about the benefits, excitement and intricacies associated with racehorse ownership,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. “We are thankful to our host Del Mar for their support, and planning is already underway for a fifth Thoroughbred Owner Conference.” 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 937-329-4606. |