Youbet Contributes to University of Arizona Program

Youbet.com has contributed $100,000 to the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program to help endow a proposed faculty chair to conduct industry business research to head the RTIP's masters degree program.

The professor named to the RTIP chair will focus on producing relevant research and statistical modeling in the areas of racing industry economics, finance, or marketing. The research will be made available to the industry at no cost.

"Youbet's decision to fund a substantial part of the RTIP chair is gratifying and enlightened," RTIP director Doug Reed said in a release. "Racing lacks a source of 'real world' research on issues facing the industry today. The formation of the chair will help fill that void.

"Youbet's contribution will be felt in the classroom with the addition of a highly qualified educator to our faculty for the express purpose of enhancing graduate level study. Our aim is to give students enrolled in our masters program a deeper understanding of the racing business so they will be better prepared to pursue careers in horse racing."

The chair, which requires an endowment of $1.5 million to become a reality, will be based in the Department of Animal Sciences and will have access to research collaboration from the University of Arizona's Eller School of Business. The university has pledged to provide matching funds to support the annual cost of the professorship.