Asian Racing Conference: Globalization as the Only Way Forward for Turf

After four days of the conference, the top authorities of world racing offered diverse perspectives on the current state and the future of the industry

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Turf Diario Special Correspondent in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).– While the world’s attention was focused on the Saudi Cup (G1), inside the doors of the Asian Racing Conference, something even more significant than a multi-million dollar race was being debated: the very future of turf.

In various panels and forums held in the days leading up to the great Saudi meeting, leaders, breeders, and executives agreed on a troubling diagnosis. The sustained decline in the number of births, the consequent threat to genetic diversity, the commercial concentration on specific horse profiles, the economic difficulties driving young people away from working in the industry, and the growing demands regarding equine welfare form a combo that requires global responses.

Andrew Harding, Secretary General of the Asian Racing Federation and Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, was direct: "Our sport has centuries of history, but its future will depend on its relevance to young people. Not only as fans but also as part of the workforce."

The concern over the decrease in foal crops was one of the central themes. Philip Newton, Chairman of the British Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, revealed that the United Kingdom has suffered a 36 percent drop in births since 2004. "I have been a nuisance on this subject for years," he admitted, emphasizing that the problem cannot be addressed in isolation. "It doesn't matter what one jurisdiction does separately. It is a global issue."

Newton remarked that, despite the challenging scenario, there is a clear opportunity: global interest in major international events. The key, in his view, is to build a coherent global brand that integrates the world's main racing carnivals, something that will require greater cooperation and less internal competition between jurisdictions.

Jayne McGivern, CEO of Sports Boulevard Foundation, focused on the economic pressure faced by breeders: "If I am breeding horses to support my family and the only thing that sells are sprinters, I am going to look for stallions that fit that market." The concentration in one segment, she warned, ends up affecting field sizes at other distances and reduces the appeal for the bettor.

From Japan and the United States, encouraging signs in certain markets were also mentioned, though with the warning that concentration at the top can limit long-term strategic decisions.

On the operational level, globalization faces obstacles: disparate veterinary regulations, bureaucracy, transport logistics, and saturated calendars. However, several voices highlighted concrete progress.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, highlighted the impact of the World Pool as a tool to unite jurisdictions through shared betting, generating commercial and promotional synergies. For his part, Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, pointed to progress in coordination between Middle East countries since the creation of the Saudi Cup in 2020. "In the last two years, we have made great strides in the movement of horses and the coordination of dates. Now there are no surprises, and that is very important," he stated.

In an increasingly crowded calendar, dominated by the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup (G1) between February and March, regional and global articulation becomes indispensable.

The final message was clear: racing cannot think in local terms. The genetic, economic, and social sustainability of the sport will depend on its ability to tell global stories, create international stars, and connect with new generations. In Riyadh, while the champions shone, the discussion on how to preserve the future of the spectacle was also ignited.