News Releases

Tuesday, March 10, 2015Contact: Bob Curran Jr. (212) 521-5326
WADA Director General David Howman to Address Pan Am Conference Attendees in NYC

David Howman, who has served as director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2003, will share insights on the creation of the World Anti-Doping Code and the organization’s successful efforts in bringing international consistency to anti-doping policies and regulations when he addresses Thoroughbred racing delegates from all over the world at the Pan Am Conference in New York City on Friday, June 5.

The Jockey Club, the breed registry for Thoroughbreds in North America, and the Latin American Racing Channel (LARC) are co-hosting the conference. It begins Wednesday, June 3, 2015, and concludes Saturday, June 6, with the running of the Belmont Stakes.

“Anti-doping regulation is a critical component for any country striving to maintain a successful horse racing industry, and we are honored to have someone with David’s experience in the international arena share his thoughts and strategies with our attendees,” said Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club.

“I thoroughly look forward to speaking at the Pan Am Conference this summer. The WADA model is a successful example of how best to bring consistency to anti-doping policies and regulations across all countries and all sports,” said Howman. “I look forward to sharing my insight on how WADA has combatted doping in sport when I address the international racing community in New York City in June.”

Howman was an original WADA Foundation board member representing Oceania and served as the chair of the WADA Legal Committee. In addition, he served as the chair of the Independent Observer Team at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City 2002 and as the deputy chair of the Independent Observer Team at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Prior to that, he practiced as an attorney in Wellington, New Zealand. He was also chairman of the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency between 2000 and 2003 and, previously, its counsel. He was instrumental in writing the legislation for the agency and he has represented many prominent New Zealand sportsmen in various activities and contractual areas.

The organization and agenda for the Pan Am Conference are being developed by Horacio Esposito, the president of LARC and special advisor to the president of O.S.A.F.; Pablo Kavulakian, director of LARC; and James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club.

Presenting sponsors of the conference include LARC, The Jockey Club (through its commercial subsidiaries and partnerships America’s Best Racing, Equibase Company, Incompass Solutions, The Jockey Club Information Systems, and The Jockey Club Technology Services), Betfred, Club Hipico Santiago, Encompass Digital Media, Hipodromo Chile, Keeneland Association, The Liberman Group, Maroñas Entertainment, The New York Racing Association Inc., PMU, Sport Mediastream, The Stronach Group, UTTA (Unión de Trabajadores del Turf y Afines), and Valparaiso Sporting Club.

The conference will focus on many key international areas across the two days of the business program on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, including

  • Globalization of Thoroughbred breeding and the Importance of the North American and South American Regions
  • The Pattern System, a detailed look at the rating used to assess race quality
  • Delivering International Racing to Bettors and Fans
  • New Technologies in Racing and Sports
  • Enhancing the Racing Customer Experience
  • Global Measures to Racing Integrity
  • Reforming Medication Rules: Approaches in South America

Additional topics and speakers will be announced presently; additional information and registration forms for the conference are available at panamnyc2015.com.

O.S.A.F. is the South American Association for the promotion of Thoroughbred Race Horse Breeding in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Additional information is at osafweb.com.ar.

The Latin American Racing Channel broadcasts the most important horse races from Latin America to the world and offers racetrack maintenance and consulting services to a wide range of industry organizations. Additional information is at larchannel.com.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.