International Federation of Horseracing Authorities

The IFHA Minimum Horse Welfare Standards were published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on Monday. The standards are in line with the IFHA's terms of reference that include promoting best practice, harmonization and information exchange across racing nations. They also complement recent reforms that ensure traceability of horses from their foal stage through into retirement and beyond. Racing authorities should refer to this guidance to establish accepted horse welfare practices in their jurisdiction and to set minimum standards of participant behaviour, including behavioural change where necessary. "The IFHA...

Racing has been fortunate to forge ahead in 2020 without crowds, but it is imperative that they return as soon as possible. That was one of the overriding themes of the third panel of the virtual International Conference of Horseracing Authorities released on Monday and entitled "Participating and working in racing during a global pandemic." Moderator Rishi Persad spoke with trainers Charlie Appleby, Chris Waller and Ger Lyons as well as jockeys Hollie Doyle and Zac Purton about the experience of being a racing professional in 2020. "When the country...

The emergence of unexpected creative opportunities and the near universal cooperation and enthusiasm of racing's participants to produce a quality product were among the common themes discussed by racing media personalities in the UK, France, U.S., Australia and Japan during the second panel of the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities. Entitled 'Adapting the Broadcast, Production, and Media Experience to a COVID-19 Racing and Sporting Landscape,' the panel is part of a series of videos produced by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities in a virtual format of its conference annually...

The virtual International Conference of Horseracing Authorities continued on Tuesday with the delivery of the keynote address by Pete Giorgio and Alan Switzer from Deloitte. Giorgio leads Deloitte's U.S. sports practice and has co-authored a pair of reports concerning sports in the pandemic: Games without fans: how sports organizations can thrive now, and in the long term; and COVID-19 Outlooks for the Sports Industry. Switzer is a director in the company's sports business group and has worked extensively in horse racing for over 15 years. Giorgio and Switzer discussed via...

The 54th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities began on Monday in a virtual format, with a series of videos to be released over the first two weeks of October. The conference organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities is traditionally held in Paris, France on the day after the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a virtual format this year. The first panel was entitled 'Sustaining the Business of Racing and Sports in the Midst of a Global Pandemic and Economic Uncertainty.' Hosted by media...

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities will hold its 54th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities in virtual format this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference typically takes place in Paris the day after the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but this year the format will take the shape of a series of videos released during the first two weeks of October. The focus of the conference will be the pandemic, and will feature pre-recorded Zoom discussions with prominent racing executives, participants, and stakeholders who have been conducting...

An equine digital passport solution, which would ensure the efficient cross-border movement of sport, racing and breeding horses beginning in 2021, was proposed by the International Horse Sports Confederation Taskforce (IHSC) for Brexit and European Union Animal Health Law on Tuesday. The proposal would allow for the free movement of horses between Great Britain and Europe following the end of the Brexit transition period in December 2020 and would also meet the requirements of the new European Union Animal Health Law Legislation, which begins on Jan. 1, 2021. Operational at...

The annual Longines World's Best Racehorse and Longines World's Best Horse Race Ceremony will be live streamed by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Slated for Jan. 22, the ceremony will be held at The Landmark hotel in London and begin at 2:45 p.m. local time. The stream will be available at www.ifhaonline.org, as well as the Longines World's Best Racehorse Facebook page. In 2018, Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) shared the title of Longines World's Best Racehorse, while the G1 Qatar Prix de...