Brian Rolapp, executive vice president of NFL Media and president of the NFL Network, will share insights into the National Football League's wide ranging media strategies and Denis Egan, chief executive of the Irish Turf Club, will provide an update on jockey safety and welfare initiatives when The Jockey Club hosts its annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The 62nd Round Table also will provide updates on medication reform efforts in the U.S., a study on equine drug testing and enforcement, an analysis of racing trends and horse inventories, and a report on new fan and owner development initiatives.
The Jockey Club will again provide a live video stream of the two-hour conference at jockeyclub.com, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.
Rolapp is responsible for managing the National Football League's media businesses, including NFL Network, NFL.com, NFL Mobile, and the newly created NFL Now as well as NFL sponsorships and advertising sales. He also leads the development and implementation of strategy for the NFL's media assets, including television contracts and digital media rights, and he has spearheaded some of the largest and most comprehensive arrangements with major corporations in NFL history.
Egan has been an active advocate for jockey safety and served as the chairman of the International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys that was held under the auspices of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., in 2013 and 2012. Founded in 1790, the Irish Turf Club is the regulatory body for horseracing in Ireland and is responsible for the integrity and the reputation of Irish racing both in Ireland and internationally.
"On the marketing and branding front, the National Football League is widely viewed as the gold standard in professional sports, and we're extremely fortunate to have Brian Rolapp share some of his experiences with us," said Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club. "The safety of our athletes should always be a top priority and Denis Egan will be able to enlighten us about practices throughout the world."
The Round Table Conference agenda will feature a report on the activities of The Jockey Club by Laura Barillaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and a review of the recent Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit from executive vice president and executive director Matt Iuliano.
Dr. Dionne Benson, the executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, will discuss new ways that data is being used to enhance horse safety.
Dan Singer, senior partner and leader of the Sports and Gaming Practice, McKinsey & Company, will share the findings of a recent study that quantifies the practices and costs of equine drug testing and enforcement in the U.S. and identifies the steps and expenditures needed to implement a uniform set of standards and practices among all racing jurisdictions in this country.
The Jockey Club has collaborated on two previous projects with McKinsey & Company. In 1991, the company produced a report entitled, "Building a World-Class Drug Detection System for the Racing Industry: A National Strategic Plan," and in 2011, the organization conducted a comprehensive economic study of the sport, entitled "Driving Sustainable Growth for Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding."
Brad Kimbrell, president of The Jockey Club subsidiary InCompass Solutions Inc., will discuss racing trends and horse inventory at American racetracks. A report on new fan and new owner development efforts will be delivered by Jason Wilson, president of TJC Media Ventures.
In addition to the live video stream, a replay will be available on jockeyclub.com later that afternoon and an official transcript of the proceedings is expected to be available on The Jockey Club website the following day.
The Jockey Club Round Table Conference was first held July 1, 1953, in The Jockey Club office in New York City. The following year, it was moved to Saratoga Springs, N.Y.