Romanet, current vice-chairmen, re-elected to IFHA

Last updated: 6/4/15 2:33 PM

During a meeting at the Pan-American Conference, the
executive council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities
(IFHA) re-elected incumbent Chairman Louis Romanet and present Vice-Chairmen Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (Asia), Jim Gagliano (Americas) and
Brian Kavanagh (Europe) to three-year terms from October 2015 through
October 2018.

Following the election, Romanet expressed his core
objectives for his eighth mandate as chairman of the Federation.

“In an
increasingly globalized industry, the IFHA must remain focused on its
mission as a conduit of good regulation and practices on international
matters,” Romanet said. “With the newly re-elected vice-chairmen we will
develop an action plan in order to meet the Federation’s goals for the
next three years.”

According to Romanet, main strategic aims for the IFHA
include:

Implement a global anti-doping policy through the
certification of labs, harmonization of drug control, and out-of-competition
testing. The foundations of such a policy have already been built with
Article 6 of the IABRW extensively reorganized and five laboratories across
all regions selected for initial performance capability assessment and
certification.

Achieve a no medication on race-day policy for all IFHA
member countries.

Advance measures to protect the welfare and safety of
horse and rider while working with industry stakeholders to understand the
current situation in individual countries and regions.

Realize greater uniformity in the race-day rules of IFHA
members in order to support the development of an international fan
base for racing, reduce the risk of controversy, and foster simulcasting and
commingling arrangements which improve the revenues of the sport. This
will build on the major progress already achieved in connection with the
“protest” rule.

Apply rules and regulations that ease movement of horses
to facilitate international competition while allowing for disease
control. The five-year Collaboration Agreement with the OIE (World Animal Health
Organization) and the partnership with the FEI in the International Horse
Sports Confederation will be major vehicles for progressing these matters.

Foster the development of robust legal protection of
racing’s intellectual property rights against unauthorized use by
wagering operators. The principles first articulated by the IFHA in
Art.28 IABRW are now capable of being crystallized in a new statutory
racing right and the IFHA will actively promote this and other legal
protections of racing’s intellectual property rights.

Develop and execute a robust communication strategy in conjunction with
its members, focusing on promoting the best of global racing through
traditional and new media.

Continue to grow the federation’s partnership with Longines, building
awareness of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, the Longines
World’s Best Jockey, and corresponding awards and ceremonies.

Further employ quality control of graded and black-type races through
the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee and the
regional pattern committees.

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