Thirty-four leading figures in North American racing will be featured in eight panel discussions on issues of the sport at the joint meeting of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Harness Tracks of America and Racetracks of Canada, at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida, March 13 and 14, 2003.

A management panel discussing current racing issues brings together for the first time leaders of the four major racing ownership groups in the sport: Magna Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Inc., the New York Racing Association and Woodbine Entertainment.

Jim McAlpine, Magna’s president will speak for his group; John Long, president of Churchill Downs, Inc. represents that organization; Barry Schwartz, chairman, will represent NYRA; and David Willmot, president/CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, will be the panelist representing the Ontario racing giant.

The management panel also includes Bryan Krantz of Fair Grounds, president of TRA; Chris McErlean of the Meadowlands, president of HTA; and Bernard Goldstein, chairman/CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos and president of Pompano Park Racing.

Penny Chenery, thoroughbred racing’s spokeswoman extraordinaire and owner of Secretariat, will appear with author Mary Midkiff and David Rovine, director of marketing at Gulfstream Park, on a panel titled "Women as Racing Fans: An Objective or an Afterthought."

Coverage and non-coverage of racing will be discussed by an all-star media panel including Andy Beyer of the Washington Post; Steven Crist, editor/publisher of Daily Racing Form; Bill Christine of the Los Angeles Times; Bill Finley, writer for the New York Times; Allen Gutterman, director of marketing at Hollywood Park and a veteran racing publicist; Charlie Leehrsen, executive editor of Sports Illustrated; and Neil Milbert of the Chicago Tribune.

Progress on detecting currently undetected illegal medication is the subject of a panel consisting of Drs. George Maylin of Cornell University; Ken McKeever of Rutgers University; and Scot Waterman, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

Other panels will discuss international simulcasting, domestic simulcasting and racing television, and racing as viewed by leading regulators, legislators, administrators and OTB executives. Speakers include: Ron Barbaro, chairman/CEO, Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission; Bill Oberle, Speaker Pro Tem, Delaware House of Representatives; Stanley Sadinsky, chairman, Ontario Racing Commission; Frank Zanzuccki, executive director, New Jersey Racing Commission; Raymond Casey, president, New York City OTB; Michael Connery, president, Capital District OTB; Mea Knapp, president, Suffolk district OTB, and Drew Shubeck, VP/GM, The Meadows.