IFHA Conference Tackles Growth of Illegal Betting, Future of Racing Marketing
LEXINGTON, KY – The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) conference, “Racing Wagering & marketing, what Today’s Customers Wont and What the Future Holds,” recently concluded, addressing critical issues facing the global horse racing industry, including the escalating threat of illegal betting and evolving consumer preferences.
The conference featured insights from industry leaders including Tony Allevato, chief revenue officer and president, NYRA Bets; Felicity Barnard, CEO, Ascot Racecourse; Drew Fleming, president and CEO, Breeders’ Cup Ltd; Pablo Kavulakian, president, American Racing Channel; and atsushi Kikuta, director of international affairs, Japan Racing Association.
Barnard expressed optimism about the sport’s potential, stating, ”I can assure you that I have absolute faith and optimism in the growth of this sport, and I think there is a huge potential internationally. I think we are doing lots of things right,but I think we could do a lot of things better,together.” Allevato similarly emphasized the industry’s capabilities, saying, “Sometimes, we don’t give ourselves enough credit. If we all can take a step back, look at what we are doing, trust ourselves, and know that we are creative. We can get horse racing to get to the next level. I truly believe that.”
A dedicated session focused on “Growth of the Illegal Betting Market and Tackling Challenges in Betting Regulation.” panelists included Tom Chignell, consultant on integrity projects, Hong Kong Jockey Club; Brant Dunshea, acting CEO, British Horseracing Authority; Luca Esposito, executive director, World Lottery Association; Martin Purbrick, chair of the IFHA Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Crime; and Vincent Ven, head of anti-match-fixing, Union of European Football Associations.
Ven highlighted the common challenges faced across sports regarding integrity and stressed the importance of participant education and stakeholder collaboration.
The conference also included presentations from ben Cleminson, CEO of Square in the Air, on innovation in sports and horse racing, and Salem binmahfooz, chairman adviser and technical committee member of the Jockey Club of Saudi arabia, who provided details on the 41st Asian Racing Conference, scheduled for Riyadh in February 2026.
Replays of the live video stream and presentations will be made available in the coming days.
