by Alexa Ravit

Lexington, KY — BloodHorse and Breeders’ Cup Ltd. announced today that they will present a “Sports Wagering and Impact on Horse Racing” symposium on Thursday (Sept. 6) in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion. Other sponsors of the symposium include Keeneland, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Sportech, Equibase and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Additional promotional support provided by NTRA, AQHA, USTA, National HBPA and TVG.

The symposium will take place from 3–6 p.m. and is free to the public. Those who would like to attend must register at bit.ly/2MNjXHE. Space is limited so register quickly.

In May, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, thus allowing for sports betting to be legalized in states across the country. Since the ruling, racetracks in New Jersey and Delaware have begun accepting sports wagers, and other states and racetracks are looking to adopt sports betting in the near future. According to a 2018 report by McKinsey & Company, wagers from sports betting could exceed $120 billion by 2023.

The symposium will be organized in a town hall format with sessions focused on economics, politics, and the consumer. Each session will feature a moderator and experts in the field. Confirmed speakers include:

• Alpine Group – Greg Means, Principal and Lobbyist for National Thoroughbred Racing Association
• FanDuel/TVG – John Hindman, General Counsel
• Monmouth Park – Bill Knauf, Vice President of Business Operations
• Sportech – Victor Bigio, Consultant, Sports Betting Business Development
• The Stronach Group – Ed Hannah, Vice Chairman
• William Hill – Daniel Shapiro, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development
• National Basketball Association, Dan Spillane, Senior Vice President, League Governance and Policy
• Senator Damon Thayer (R-KY)

“In keeping with our dedication to Thoroughbred breeding and racing, we are delighted to be partnering with Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland to provide the most up-to-date insights on the opportunities and challenges relating to sports wagering and its impact on the Thoroughbred industry,” said John K. Keitt Jr., CEO, publisher, and editorial director of BloodHorse.

“We are very pleased to join the BoodHorse in presenting this symposium on the emerging legalized sports wagering phenomenon,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “As an industry, we are keenly aware of the potential expansion of sports betting in the gaming marketplace, and look forward to the public gaining insights from our distinguished panel of speakers at Keeneland in September.”