The first full day of the convention on Friday will include a legislative affairs forum focusing on ways horsemen can effectively work with government officials to ensure their understanding of the impact and importance of horse racing.
The panel will be moderated by Brian Fitzgerald, the NHBPA’s government relations liaison. The speakers will include: Kelley Brooks, principal at the lobbying firm Stealey II Inc.; Daniel J. Hartman, division director for the state of Colorado’s division of racing events; William “Bill” White, president of the Florida HBPA; and Mark Hillman, a Colorado farmer and breeder and former Colorado State Senator.
Friday’s schedule will also include NHBPA committee meetings, forums on benefit providers and public relations, and industry awards.
On Saturday, Kent Stirling, chair of the NHBPA’s Medication Committee and executive director of the Florida HBPA, will moderate a medication forum covering a range of topics related to equine drug testing and regulation.
The panel will include: writer/handicapper Richard Halvey; Dr. Thomas Tobin, professor of veterinary science at the Gluck Equine Research Center and the Graduate Center for Toxicology at the University of Kentucky; Dr. Clara Fenger of Equine Integrated Medicine in Georgetown, Kentucky; and Dr. Steven Barker, professor of veterinary medicine at LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
The day will conclude with an afternoon of racing at Arapahoe Park.
“The National HBPA is honored to have Arapahoe Park and the Colorado Horseracing Association host our summer convention for 2015,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “The events and forums will be such that our entire membership will be able to enjoy themselves, as well as have a chance to be educated on current affairs affecting our racing industry.”
On Sunday, the National HBPA Board of Directors will meet to elect a new president to take over for outgoing president Robin Richards.
