The Race Track Industry Program today released the final agenda for the 2010 Symposium on Racing and

Gaming. The keynote address, “Why I’m Still Breeding Racehorses: Five Reasons to be Optimistic about Thoroughbred Racing’s Long-Term Future,” will be presented by Churchill Downs president and CEO Robert Evans.

Evans, an active thoroughbred owner and commercial breeder since 1980, founded Tenlane Farm in Versailles, KY. This year, he is the owner/breeder of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf contender New Normal. Prior to joining Churchill Downs, Evans developed a diverse management experience as co-founder and managing director of the private equity firm Symphony Technology Group; president and chief operating officer of the enterprise software firm Aspect Development, Inc.; managing partner of the Americas Supply Chain Practice for Accenture Ltd.; vice president of customer support for Mazda Motor of America, Inc.; and co-founder and president of the outsourcing services subsidiary Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc.

“I couldn’t think of a better topic to start the symposium off with," said Doug Reed, director of the RTIP. “We’re delighted to have Mr. Evans here to kick off the program with reasons to be optimistic.”

Race Track Industry Program’s annual Symposium on Racing & Gaming this year becomes the permanent home for a number of industry events, including the Harness Tracks of America’s annual meeting, the NTRA annual meeting and the NTRA Marketing Summit. The symposium will be held December 6-9, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. Find the complete details of the program here.

The symposium attracts leaders from all aspects of the racing industry with its cutting-edge panel topics and roundtable discussions. Attendees from all over the world get a first look at new products as well as the latest in student research.

Additional meetings and events scheduled during the symposium include: The Turf Publicists of America’s Mark Kaufman Workshop and Big Sport of Turfdom Award luncheon; The International Tote Protocol Group -- a group which works to create proactive solutions to issues regarding the protocol for merging international pools; The Jockeys’ Guild Annual Assembly; the RCI Model Rules Committee; and ARCI Board of Directors and a roundtable discussion with ARCI and Jockeys’ Guild members.

The University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program offers both a Bachelors and Masters degree program with an emphasis on the pari-mutuel racing industry and hosts the annual Symposium on Racing & Gaming held every December in Tucson, Arizona.

For more information, visit the RTIP website.

(RTIP)