“Equestricon is a modern day way of thinking in racing,” said [Stacie Clark-Rogers]. “I think in this day and age the accountability of the stewardship of horses is important to show that we care about our horses. You want to say, ’yes, we take care of the horses after they’re done racing.’ I think this modern day fan wants to know that. I think it’s important to recognize that social expectation is that we are conscious of the stewardship of the horse.”
Young People Get Their Day(s) at Equestricon
The Program: Aftercare at EQCon
The Program: Women in Racing
“Although I think the role of women in the racing industry has grown significantly in the past few decades, we still face unique challenges in the business. I worry that many assume since there are more women participating in the sport, there can't be any lingering barriers to their working in the business or becoming fans. I don't believe that's true.”
The Program: Social Media in Horse Racing
With the rise in popularity of social media around the world, it’s no surprise racing has embraced the medium. Any time, day or night, anyone can sign on to Twitter or Facebook and have a conversation about any racing topic they desire, or catch up on what their favorite horse is up to, in a matter of minutes... “I love the instantaneous celebration and analysis of our biggest events. Who got a terrible trip? Who is the next big superstar? There are so many opinions and it makes watching a race that much more fun for me,” said Keith McCalmont, Media Coordinator at Woodbine Entertainment Group.
The Program: International Viewpoints
The Program: Betting with the Best
“People taking part in the handicapping workshop should enter with an open mind; there are numerous ways to handicap a horse race, and attendees are sure to hear about many of them,” Bernier said. “That's the beauty of the handicapping game - there's no right or wrong way to handicap a race. Fans and handicappers attending will hopefully see how we handicap the way we do, as well as why we prefer certain styles as opposed to others.”
The Program: Initial EQCon Schedule Released!
Those concerned that Equestricon may not have anything of interest to them will have the opposite reaction when they see the preliminary program schedule for the inaugural convention, which was released on Monday by Equestricon's organizers. With over 45 events taking place over three days in August of 2017 - from tours to panels to social gatherings and networking opportunities - everyone from retired racehorse fans to those wondering how owners feel after a big win will find something for them.
