On Wednesday, September 10, the Race Track Industry Program announced its first international speakers for the upcoming Global Symposium on Racing & Gaming.

The symposium is slated for December 8-11, 2014 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

“As the world of racing gets more interconnected across continents, it’s important to bring more international perspectives and opportunities to our attendees,” said Doug Reed, RTIP director.

Oonagh Chan, Head of Broadcast Services, will be representing the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Eamonn Toland, Paddy Power president of North America, will discuss technological opportunities that present themselves when working in the digital age. Jennifer Owen, research consultant for Aspire Wealth Management Pty Ltd., will travel from Australia to tackle the issues and metrics associated with the field size—where it is growing, where it’s declining and the effect on the industry’s bottom line.

A look at Racing Victoria’s (Australia) control room by Dayle Brown, executive general manager - Integrity Services, will illustrate how cutting-edge technology creates a level playing field for tracks of all sizes around the country in both the areas of wagering and officiating.

Further international interaction will be available at the Global Simulcast Marketplace, an event held during the symposium open to all attendees, where buyers and sellers of the racing product come together to enable the expansion of simulcast opportunities both in North America and abroad.

To complement the presentation by Racing Victoria, the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) will create a true-to-life steward’s stand on the conference stage showing the processes used and issues dealt with on a daily basis by the stewards. Both panels are integral parts of the regulatory track of topics presented. ROAP is offering continuing education credit for its accredited officials who attend the entire track of regulation-based sessions.

(With files from RTIP)