In his announcement as chairman of the Jockey Membership, Everett Dobson outlined a company targeted on transferring the game ahead to the pursuits of everybody concerned within the race. We have dedicated to thoroughbreds and other people within the racing trade.
Chaired on July 30, Dobson conveyed that message within the keynote speech of the 73rd version of the race-related Jockey Membership Roundtable Convention on July 31 at Corridor Springs, Saratoga Springs, New York.
“Our first loyalty will comply with thoroughbred horses, adopted by breeders, homeowners, racetrack operators, bettors and everybody else who make a residing within the sport,” Dobson stated. “To satisfy our mission, the Jockey Membership should serve all of them pretty, equitably and successfully.”
As we deal with that purpose, Dobson brings a various background throughout the trade and past. The longtime proprietor and breeder owns Sweet Meadows Farm close to Lexington and races beneath a Cheyenne Desk banner. Since 2014, Dobson has held management positions throughout the trade, together with the position of the Thoroughbred Proprietor and Breeders Affiliation, in addition to the position of the American Phased Stakes Committee, the place he’s the first-hand previous president. He additionally serves as a member of the Breeders’ Cup, along with being a trustee of the Keeneland Affiliation.
Past the race, Dobson is the chief chairman of Oklahoma Metropolis-based telecommunications firm Dobson Fiber, and can also be the proprietor and govt of NBA champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. They’re tech-savvy and perceive that sports activities enterprise figures are essential to racing. Dobson pointed to a lower in deal with as an indicator that modifications are wanted.
“I feel the primary metric I feel might be crucial factor is the deal with of all sources,” Dobson stated, however the predicted graphics on the display subsequent to him confirmed a decline in wagers lately. “One of the vital distinguished indicators is the deal with. It is a processing challenge. It drives profitability on the racetrack. It displays its competitiveness within the broader leisure and gaming markets and serves as an essential barometer of sports activities well being.”
Earlier than outlined many efforts (which might require trade cooperation), Dobson stated that Jockey Membership Chairman Stuart Johnny III is able to concentrate on these initiatives by efficiently pursuing key problems with horse security. His efforts to convey horse racing integrity and security authority to actuality have been recorded within the most secure 12 months of sport.
“First, I want to thank Stuart Johnny for our years of service within the sport, notably for our management as chairman over the previous decade,” Dobson stated. “Beneath his steering, we confronted tough challenges, a few of which questioned the very existence of our sport. The social license to function was definitely on the road.
“At present, thoroughbred races are safer than ever earlier than and we proceed to maneuver ahead with a number of the different initiatives that enhance the game I’m speaking about at the moment.”
Dobson touched on many efforts, together with:
- Improved race scheduling to maximise steering wheel.
- Reverses the decline in horse crop numbers. This consists of state help efforts combining breeders and improvement packages to make participation extra enticing.
- As North American truck numbers drop, Jockey Golf equipment will think about endangered truck choices.
- In recent times, it has continued to construct on the success of accelerating media protection loved by sports activities.
- Elevated funding in thoroughbred aftercare. This consists of serving to with new know-how to trace thoroughbreds all through their lifetimes.
- An launch of a unified, complete nationwide advertising marketing campaign.
- Additional analysis into the results of inbreeding on thoroughbreds and trade.
- An intensive investigation into the impression of computer-aided betting and its impression on the trade.
A few of these plans are long-standing initiatives from the Jockey Membership, whereas others have new wrinkles to construct on these years of effort, however the announcement of the nationwide advertising marketing campaign is new. The game has not run a nationwide advertising marketing campaign for a few years. After the deal with Thursday, Dobson stated the plans had been simply coming collectively in that effort.
“It is within the early phases, it is within the early phases of debate,” Dobson stated. “It will not be deployed anytime quickly, however we’ll take the suitable individual to the room and see if we might help with a message that lifts all of the boats.”
As for the results of inbreeding, the Jockey Membership might be deserted after a lawsuit filed in 2020 with a stallion that turned 4 Allion in 2020, and in 2021, its efforts might be deserted.
On Thursday, Dobson offered a slide exhibiting that the difficulty had not disappeared whereas searching for additional analysis into the difficulty.
“As many know, the Jockey Membership beforehand tried to introduce a cap on the variety of mares a stallion may probably breed. The hassle was not profitable, however the underlying considerations it aimed to deal with stay very practical.” “This slide exhibits a pattern in North America. Nonetheless, the phenomenon is going on all around the world. The US is the most important producer of thoroughbreds, nevertheless it solely represents about 20% of the world’s foal crops. It is very important proceed this dialog, whether or not you assume you might be dealing with severe issues or not.
“To that finish, the US Jockey Membership is at the moment chairing the Worldwide Stud E book Committee’s Inbreeding Process Power. Our focus is to dig deep into science and leverage rising instruments, together with synthetic intelligence and superior know-how, to higher perceive the long-term impression on breeds.”
Dobson stated these efforts wouldn’t happen on the ivory tower, and he would welcome suggestions from stallion farms.
“We’re totally conscious of the financial realities of the trade we function,” Dobson stated. “My position is to help the range whereas sustaining integration and selling an setting of innovation and funding.
“That is why I plan to be straight concerned with main stallion farms not solely within the US however world wide, to proceed this essential dialogue.”
The CAW challenge can also be controversial. In races, these stake groups make up a billion-dollar deal with every year, accounting for 20%-30% of the pool. CAW Cash means that conventional gamers, sometimes called retailers, have raised considerations in regards to the impression on CAW’s race betting, successfully elevating takeouts for the motion. Dobson stated he hopes the Jockey Membership will promote a path ahead.
“We’ll use this place to assist the trade higher perceive the difficulty and steadiness it out to make sure progress, however we won’t disenfranchise retailers,” Dobson stated. “We stay up for discussions with our stakeholders as we work in direction of a sensible resolution.”
Dobson stated the race has many success tales lately, together with improved security numbers, profitable races on a big scale, elevated alternatives for horses after their racing careers, and tv protection. What are the challenges? After the presentation, Dobson stated he heard from many individuals able to cope with trade points.
“In my presentation I highlighted the very constructive developments which can be taking place in sports activities now, however I did not sugar coat. I do not assume I am sugar stuffing issues,” Dobson stated. “There are some challenges. We have now loads to do, however I am trying round this room and seeing lots of people who’re dedicated to rolling up their sleeves and making it work.”
