The National HBPA's 2011 summer convention kicked off last night with a welcome cocktail party sponsored by the Washington HBPA, MOC Insurance Services, the Washington Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (WTBOA), and Girffin Place. Hosted by the Washington HBPA, the convention is taking place at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington and will continue through Sunday, July 24.
Today's agenda includes two speaker forums and some HBPA committee meetings.
The Medication Committee will present a forum entitled "The Scientific Case: Furosemide and the Prevention of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage." Moderated by Medication Committee Chairman and Florida HBPA Executive Director Kent Stirling, panelist will include Dr. Paul S. Morley, Dr. Don Shields, and Dr. Thomas Tobin.
National HBPA President Joe Santanna will moderate the afternoon panel, "Visions of Racing's Future," which will examine critical issues that will shape racing's future, including: technology, advanced deposit wagering (ADW), racing content and delivery, new forms of wagering, and more. Panelists will include Charles Champion, Ron Crockett, Ron Maus, Frank Petramolo, and Alex Waldrop.
Saturday's agenda will consist of more HBPA committee meetings, including the National HBPA Executive Committee. That afternoon, convention attendees will be treated to an afternoon at Emerald Downs, hosted by the racetrack and the Washington HBPA.
The National HBPA's full Board of Directors will hold its semi-annual meeting on Sunday morning. The Board meeting will mark the concluding event of the convention.
