ARCI Annual Meeting - Animal Welfare and Integrity Conference
5/6/2025 - 5/10/2025This event has completed.
ARCI Annual Meeting - Animal Welfare and Integrity Conference
5/6/2025 - 5/10/2025Event Description
This year the annual Horse Racing Integrity and Equine Welfare Conference of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) will take place in Louisville, Kentucky (USA) in the days following the Kentucky Derby. Attendees can arrive on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 and check in. There are no formal meetings Tuesday afternoon other than a "New Racing Regulator" Orientation/Training session. There will be an optional tour at a discounted rate of the Kentucky Derby Museum that will require a separate registration.
On Wednesday morning, May 7th, the Board of the National Racing Compact (the interstate Licensing Compact in the US) will meet, followed by a meeting and briefing for the ARCI Model Rules Committee. After lunch, the formal ARCI Business meetings will take place. During the Annual Meeting, Chairman Doug Moore will deliver an address prior to the Members electing At-Large Members of the Board of Directors. Following the election, the new ARCI Chair will be sworn in and deliver remarks. There may be other reports from the President and various Committees, and any resolutions from member jurisdictions will be entertained. Following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, the Organizational Meeting of the newly elected ARCI Board will occur to consider various business items. Following the conclusion of the meetings, attendees will depart for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society (LTS) for a networking event with colleagues and Members of the Society. The LTS is a members-only private club focused on horse racing. The facility is unique and features not only a full bar but a special bourbon bar, a walk-in humidor, a smoking lounge, off-track betting, and expansive, comfortable rooms in which to settle and have great conversations. Food is also available. The Society is a short cab ride from the hotel or, if the weather is conducive, a 15-20 minute walk. For those wishing for a more formal dinner following the networking event, there are many fine restaurants nearby to choose from.
On Thursday, the morning meetings will take place at the Seelbach Hotel, starting with an Executive Directors and Investigators Roundtable. There will then be a roundtable of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, and executives followed by another session for those involved in Quarter Horse racing. Following the morning sessions, there will be a break for the group to transfer to Churchill Downs for a luncheon and afternoon program. The program will focus on racetrack surface safety, certification of racing officials, strategies for marketing the sport, and a roundtable of thoroughbred owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and executives. Arrangements have been made for all to remain for twilight thoroughbred racing at Churchill Downs. Refreshments will be served..
The final sessions of the conference will take place at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. "Early Risers" may opt to take a guided backstretch tour coordinated with the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Space will be limited to registered attendees, and advance registration will be necessary. There will be a breakfast program featuring career reflections from a highly accomplished attorney about racing regulatory law, its evolution, and future challenges. There will then be a briefing on new developments in equine care and safety, followed by a discussion on managing care for our equine athletes in their retirement years.
Friday's sessions will end at Noon, and those who wish to stay for the afternoon races can enjoy them from covered seating adjacent to the meeting rooms by special arrangement with Churchill Downs. "The Downs" has recently undergone a lengthy renovation and this is a great opportunity to enjoy the new facilities and amenities.
For those not departing until Saturday afternoon or later, there may be another opportunity for a Kentucky Museum or backstretch tour Saturday morning. This will depend on interest and may require a pre-registration.
For over 80 years, the ARCI has been the recognized authority on racing regulatory matters. The ARCI develops best practice regulatory policies and standards recommended to all racing regulatory authorities. Many of the ARCI Model Rules have been incorporated in the official rules of various racing regulatory jurisdictions, including the US Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, and various national, state, and provincial regulatory commissions. ARCI-recommended policies are not limited to any one country or breed of racing. They comprise decades of the collective expertise of seasoned authorities in all aspects of racing.
On Wednesday morning, May 7th, the Board of the National Racing Compact (the interstate Licensing Compact in the US) will meet, followed by a meeting and briefing for the ARCI Model Rules Committee. After lunch, the formal ARCI Business meetings will take place. During the Annual Meeting, Chairman Doug Moore will deliver an address prior to the Members electing At-Large Members of the Board of Directors. Following the election, the new ARCI Chair will be sworn in and deliver remarks. There may be other reports from the President and various Committees, and any resolutions from member jurisdictions will be entertained. Following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, the Organizational Meeting of the newly elected ARCI Board will occur to consider various business items. Following the conclusion of the meetings, attendees will depart for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society (LTS) for a networking event with colleagues and Members of the Society. The LTS is a members-only private club focused on horse racing. The facility is unique and features not only a full bar but a special bourbon bar, a walk-in humidor, a smoking lounge, off-track betting, and expansive, comfortable rooms in which to settle and have great conversations. Food is also available. The Society is a short cab ride from the hotel or, if the weather is conducive, a 15-20 minute walk. For those wishing for a more formal dinner following the networking event, there are many fine restaurants nearby to choose from.
On Thursday, the morning meetings will take place at the Seelbach Hotel, starting with an Executive Directors and Investigators Roundtable. There will then be a roundtable of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, and executives followed by another session for those involved in Quarter Horse racing. Following the morning sessions, there will be a break for the group to transfer to Churchill Downs for a luncheon and afternoon program. The program will focus on racetrack surface safety, certification of racing officials, strategies for marketing the sport, and a roundtable of thoroughbred owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and executives. Arrangements have been made for all to remain for twilight thoroughbred racing at Churchill Downs. Refreshments will be served..
The final sessions of the conference will take place at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. "Early Risers" may opt to take a guided backstretch tour coordinated with the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. Space will be limited to registered attendees, and advance registration will be necessary. There will be a breakfast program featuring career reflections from a highly accomplished attorney about racing regulatory law, its evolution, and future challenges. There will then be a briefing on new developments in equine care and safety, followed by a discussion on managing care for our equine athletes in their retirement years.
Friday's sessions will end at Noon, and those who wish to stay for the afternoon races can enjoy them from covered seating adjacent to the meeting rooms by special arrangement with Churchill Downs. "The Downs" has recently undergone a lengthy renovation and this is a great opportunity to enjoy the new facilities and amenities.
For those not departing until Saturday afternoon or later, there may be another opportunity for a Kentucky Museum or backstretch tour Saturday morning. This will depend on interest and may require a pre-registration.
For over 80 years, the ARCI has been the recognized authority on racing regulatory matters. The ARCI develops best practice regulatory policies and standards recommended to all racing regulatory authorities. Many of the ARCI Model Rules have been incorporated in the official rules of various racing regulatory jurisdictions, including the US Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, and various national, state, and provincial regulatory commissions. ARCI-recommended policies are not limited to any one country or breed of racing. They comprise decades of the collective expertise of seasoned authorities in all aspects of racing.