The 2017 World Trotting Conference concluded with its
official closing ceremony on Saturday, August 19, at the Delta Prince Edward,
in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The torch was passed from
Canada to Sweden, where the Conference will be hosted in 2019.
Standardbred Canada president and CEO, Dan Gall
addressed the international delegates and observers.
“We have identified through the committee work a
distinct message of committing to be open, and a commitment to work together
better than we have in the past,” said Gall.
“I have heard the need to be action-based and
results-oriented as a priority for the International Trotting
Association. We are working as a united front in the best interests of
our sport, and the interests around the world are very similar. As champions
and leaders of our sport, it’s incumbent on us to take our sport forward in the
future.
“We must ask the customer how they want us to move
forward. We need to listen to our customers, at our racetracks, in our paddocks
and of course, our fans. By listening to them, our job is relatively easy.”
Prior to closing the conference, Gall thanked the
efforts of delegates, management, staff, volunteers, and the province of Prince
Edward Island.
“Kent Oakes and his team at Red Shores have done a
fantastic job,” said Gall. “I can’t believe the number of people that have told
me how great it was to have hosted this event in Prince Edward Island. There is
a great link between harness racing and the province of PEI. It is a model for
all of us to aspire towards.”
International Trotting Association committees also
presented their reports and recommendations during the ceremonies. Edward
Rennell, of New Zealand (Constitution committee), discussed membership
categories, the classification of countries participating at conferences, and
early planning for future WTC and WDC sites.
T.C. Lane, of the United States (Breeding committee),
said that his committee looked at issues including data sharing; microchipping;
moving toward wider use of electronic export certificates; and genomic research
in Standardbreds.
Ken Spicer, of New Zealand (Health and welfare
committee), spoke about uniformity in penalty enforcement across ITA countries;
sharing of international equine health and welfare statistics; and recognizing
the whip as a welfare, rather than a performance, issue in the sport.
Geoff Want, from Australia (Racing and wagering
committee), said his committee focused on international growth of wagering
markets for harness racing; addressing illegal wagering; and ensuring good
relationships with government, including maintaining and providing appropriate
data about the industry’s value.
Mike Tanner, of the United States (Marketing and
business development committee), reported on his committee’s discussion of
quantifying worldwide impact; strengthening international communication, including
social media; and comparative evaluation of horses and drivers worldwide.
Kathy Wade Vlaar, Standardbred Canada's manager of
industry marketing, shared her final assessments of the 2017 World Driving
Championship.
“With three plane trips and multiple bus trips, aside
from putting on a great show, the drivers were great ambassadors for their
countries and for harness racing,” said Wade Vlaar.
Next, the ITA’s International Media Award winners were
announced, with national representatives present accepting on behalf of their
countries’ top journalists, photographers, broadcasters, and new media.
Canada formally handed over the World Trotting
Conference and World Driving Championship to Sweden, the host of both events in
two years.
“It was great to be in Charlottetown for the World
Trotting Conference,” said Johan Lindberg, the Secretary General of Svensk
Travsport (Swedish Trotting Association). “Old Home Week will be something I
will always remember. In less than two years, we will go to Sweden. Like with
the Gold Cup & Saucer, the event will coincide with the Elitloppet -
one of the biggest events in our country.”
Sweden had generously deferred hosting the 2017
editions, in order to permit Canada to do so during the 250th anniversary
of its first-ever horse race and “Canada 150” celebrations recognizing a
century-and-a-half of existence as a nation.
