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14. TBA Presentation A Success In Thailand  30/11/2001

The recent 28th Asian Racing Conference held in Bangkok last week was host to over 600 representatives from within 18 countries.

TBA directors Mr Richard Turnley (chairman of the TBA), Mr Murray Murdoch and Mr Gary Turkington, represented the TBA who combined attendance at various meetings and taking part in a number of issues relating to the breeding industry.

The Asian Racing Conference provided for the first time, the opportunity for many associations and companies to exhibit and promote their products and services during the conference. The TBA provided a comprehensive trade stand, which was continuously supervised by the TBA executive officer James Peters who over the past three months had gathered 500kg of marketing material from Australian Stud Farms, Bloodstock Agents, State Associations and other industry related organisations. The TBA also released a number of new marketing brochures that were aimed at promoting the Australian Thoroughbred industry. Sample bags consisting of all the marketing material were also provided at the conference. Thoroughbred Breeders Australia would like to thank all participants who provided material for the conference therefore aiding the TBA in its objective to insure that the Australian thoroughbred industry was well presented, it was very much appreciated by a large number of delegates who were present during the conference. The TBA stand was one of the most popular and all promotional material was eagerly sought out.

One of the many achievements and positive outcomes of the conference was the decision to change the identity of the Asian Racing Conference (ARC), as it was formerly known, and has now taken on the new name of Asian Racing Federation (ARF) in response to the expanding responsibilities of the body, bringing it into line with similar regional and global organisations.

The conference agenda was presented in such a manner that representatives were able to discuss a number of vital issues relating to the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry by series of meetings, business sessions and open forums that took place over the one-week period. One of the sessions, which rated high on the conference agenda, was the International Forum on Artificial Insemination chaired by Mr Robert McCreery of the British European Breeders' Fund. The objective of the forum was to explore the potential benefits and risks of artificial insemination in today's thoroughbred breeding environment and regulatory and administrative requirements in the event of its introduction in the future.

Other sessions that took place were;

• Wagering and technology

• Racing

• Veterinary

• ARF Series

• Careers and Education

• Ownership

• Security

• Taxation

• Tracks and Training Facilities

• Licensing

• Occupational Health and Safety

• Movement of Horses in Asia

• Racehorse Retirement

• Open Forum - "The Way Ahead" Individual workshop Meetings were held prior to this session with key points being brought to the open forum enabling the opportunity to create discussions with the aim of drawing up recommendations to help to ensure sustainable long term benefits for ARF Members.

The 28th Asian Racing Conference also provided an ideal opportunity for a number of individual workshop meetings to be conducted, particularly the Asian Breeders Conference where the meeting was chaired by Mr Murray Murdoch. The meeting was attended by Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and Japan delegates. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the future of  a regular Asian Breeders conference. A number of positive issues were resolved at the meeting where delegates expressed their interest in having one or two days of breeders matters during the same week as the Asian Racing Conference rather then having a stand alone conference as was the case previously. Delegates agreed that in New Zealand, a discussion would take place next year to form a permanent standing committee of Asian Breeders to deal with problems on an ad-hoc basis.

Other meetings that took place were;

• Asia Pacific Racing Integrity Conference (APRIC)

• Asian Stud Book Conference (ASBC)

• Permanent Liaison Committee On The International Movement Of Horses (PLCIMH)

• International Forum Panel

• Advisory Council On Doping Matters (ACDM)

• Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC)

• ARF Executive Council Meeting (ARF EXCO)

• Council Meeting (ARF EXCO)

• ARF Management Committee

• ARF Classifications & ARF Pattern

• Global Racing Committee (GRC)

• ARF Development Meeting

The executive officer of the Australian Racing Board, Mr Andrew Harding, was appointed secretary of the Asian Racing Federation. He adopts the position as part of the handover of the ARF secretariat to the Australian Racing Board after 10 years of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club under the control of Mr Simon Cooper being responsible for the running of the ARC office.

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