Speaker Series

Each semester, the RTIP invites racing industry leaders to be guest professors in their classes; these speakers provide students a diverse base of knowledge along with a great opportunity to network and establish relationships with industry professionals. This provides a critical link for students, as the real-life information provided by the speakers puts scholastic knowledge into context.

Follow each link to learn more about each visit.

2023 Guest Speakers
  • Dr. Mary Scollay — Chief of Science Horseracing Welfare and Integrity Unit (HIWU)
  • Hal Wafer — Event Wagering and Fantasy Sports Administrator, Arizona Department of Gaming
  • J. Curtis Linnell — Executive Vice President, Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) 
  • Megan Eisenhard — University Credit Union, Chief Growth Officer
  • Dr. David Lambert — StrideSafe
  • Chris McErlean — Vice President of Racing, Penn Gaming
  • Mark Thurman — President and CEO, CHRIMS
  • Eric Hamelback — President, Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA)
  • H. James Brown — Thoroughbred racehorse trainer
  • Will Alempijevic —  Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA)
  • Boyd Browning — President and CEO, Fasig-Tipton Company
  • Don Ahrens —  Security executive, Penn Entertainment and Breeders’ Cup
  • Mike Weiss — General Manager, Rillito Park
  • Mike Ziegler — General Manager, Churchill Downs racetrack
2022 Guest Speakers
  • Aiden Butler — Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST Racing, and President, 1/ST Content
  • Lonny Powell — CEO, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA)
  • Amy Zimmerman — Santa Anita Park, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer; NBC Sports Producer
  • Eric Halstrom — Vice President & General Manager, Indiana Grand
  • Tony Lacy — Vice President of Sales, Keeneland
  • Eugene Joyce  — General Manager, Wyoming Horse Racing, LLC
  • Jessica Hammond — Beyond the Wire
  • Acacia Courtney — On-Air Handicapper, Gulfstream Park
  • Martin Panza — Former SVP of racing operations, New York Racing Association’s (NYRA)
  • Keith Doleshel — Racing Secretary, Aqueduct Racetrack
  • Scott Chaney — Executive Directer, California Horse Racing Board, (CHRB)
  • Alan Balch — Executive Director, California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT)
  • Matthew O’Connor — Owner/Trainer, Matthew B. O’Connor Racing Stables
  • Todd Pletcher — Owner/Trainer, Todd Pletcher Racing 
2021 Guest Speakers
  • Alan M. Foreman  — Chairman and CEO of Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations, Inc.
  • Terry Meyocks  — President & CEO, The Jockeys’ Guild
  • Ed Martin — Secretary, Harness Horsemen's International; Executive Director, Delaware Standardbred Owners Association
  • Alex Waldrop —President & CEO, National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)
  • Janet VanBebber —Chief Racing Officer, American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)
  • Sal DiMario —Secretary, Harness Horsemen's International/Executive Director, Delaware Standardbred Owners Association
  • Mike Tanner —Executive Vice-President and CEO, United States Trotting Association
2019 Guest Speakers
  • Luis Jauregui — Steward, California Horse Racing Board
  • Curtis Linnell —  Executive Vice President, Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau
  • Dr. Dionne Benson —  Executive Director & CEO, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium
  • Marsha Kelly —  MSK Ventures
  • Bill Knauf (via Skype) —  Vice President Business Operations, Monmouth Park Racetrack
  • Paul Monroe  Director of Marketing, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie
  • Scott Finley —  Country Manager, Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU)
  • Scott Chaney — Steward, California Horse Racing Board
  • Ismael (Izzy) Trejo — Executive Director, New Mexico Racing Commission
  • Jen PerkinsSenior Manager, eWagering, Penn National Gaming & Hollywood Casino
  • Andrew Offerman — Senior Director of Racing Operations, Canterbury Park
  • Frank Lamb — Director of Government Affairs, Wyoming Downs
  • Ed Martin — President, Association of Racing Commissioners International
  • Don Ahrens — Director of Security and Parking, Sam Houston Race Park
  • Juan Estrada — Investigator, Arizona Gaming Commission
2018 Guest Speakers
2017 Guest Speakers
  • Bill Nader — Former Executive Director, Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • Bart Lang — Director of Racing, Lone Star Park
  • Judy Horton — Event Coordinator, Wyoming Downs
  • Dr. Dionne Benson — Executive Director, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium
  • Eddie Arroyo — Chief Steward, Illinois Racing Board
  • Frank Hopf — Senior Director of Racing Operations, Sam Houston Race Park
  • Dr. Melanie Stopeck — Managing Director, Talent Management and Organizational Development, Citigroup
  • Dr. Mary Scollay — Equine Medical Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
  • Paul Monroe — Vice President of Marketing, Lone Star Park
  • Richard Migliore — Retired Jockey and Race Analyst
  • Andrew Turro — Lawyer, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein P.C.
2016 Guest Speakers
2015 Guest Speakers
2014 Guest Speakers
2013 Guest Speakers
  • George "Skip" Carlson — Vice President, External Affairs and Signature Service, Saratoga & Casino Raceway
  • Pauliina Raento — Research Director, Finnish Foundation for Gaming Research and Professor of Human Geography at the University of Helsinki
  • Marsha Kelly — President, Kelly Media Consulting
  • Kevin Mullally & Mark Brnovich — General Counsel and Director of Government Relations, Gaming Laboratories International; Executive Director, Arizona Department of Gaming
  • Dr. Torri Maxwell — Technical Veterinarian, Luitpold Pharmaceuticals
  • Mike Tanner — Executive Vice President and CEO, United States Trotting Association
  • Mark Thurman — President and CEO, CHRIMS
  • Matt Hegarty — Industry Reporter, Daily Racing Form
  • Dr. Scott Stanley — Associate Professor, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Dr. Rick Arthur — Equine Medical Director, California Horse Racing Board
  • Eddie Arroyo — Senior Steward, Illinois Racing Board and former jockey
  • Raj Mutti — Regional General Manager of B.C. Racing, Great Canadian Gaming
  • Vince Mares — Executive Director, New Mexico Racing Commission
2012 Guest Speakers
  • Arthur Maberry — Agent, Brooks Maberry Inc. Equine Insurance
  • Kathleen Berkey — President, Berkey Bloodstock Services, Inc.
  • Leslie Janecka — Coordinator, KEMI (Kentucky Equine Management Internship)
  • Eric Andersen — Bloodstock Agent
  • Andrew Offerman — New Media & Live Racing Coordinator, Canterbury Park
  • Dennis Miller — Executive Director, CANTER Arizona
  • Dean Hoffman — Hoffman Communications LLC (former Editor in Chief of Hoof Beats magazine)
  • Nick Nicholson — President and CEO, Keeneland Association, Inc.
  • Stuart Glogoff — Senior Consultant, UA Office of Instruction and Assessment
  • Dr. Ross Rich — Owner, Cave Creek Equine Surgical & Diagnostic
  • Dr. Mary Scollay — Equine Medical Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)
  • Dr. Scott Stanley — Director, UC Davis Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
  • Dr. Heather Knych — UC Davis
  • Mike Tanner — Executive Vice President & CEO, United States Trotting Association (USTA)
  • Vic Stauffer — Track Announcer, Betfair Hollywood Park and California racing steward
  • Tom Varela — Vice President, Monarch Content Management
  • Kevin Mullally — General Counsel & Director-Government Relations, Gaming Laboratories International LLC
2011 Guest Speakers
  • Simon Cooper — Company Secretary, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Inc.
  • Tyler Johnson — Director of Casino Operations, Remington Park
  • Tammy Gantt — Director of Promotions and Sales, Calder Casino and Race Course
  • Kevin Mullally — Gaming Laboratories International
  • George Duprey — Sales Manager, InCompass
  • Dr. Scott Stanley — Director, Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC Davis
  • Scott Wells — President and General Manager, Remington Park
  • Leslie Janecka — Coordinator, Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) Program
  • Dr. Rick Arthur — Equine Medical Director of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis and the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB)
  • Alex Dadoyan — Assistant Vice President of Racing Development & Distribution, Meadowlands Racetrack and Monmouth Park
  • Stuart Glogoff — Senior Consultant, University of Arizona, Office of Instruction and Assessment
  • Ed Martin — President, ARCI
  • Dan Silver — Communications Director, NYRA
  • Mike Pegram — Thoroughbred Owner
  • Audrey Kauffman — Manager of Mutuels and Account Wagering, Oregon Racing Commission
  • Ralph "Chip" Kemnitz — Commissioner, South Dakota Commission on Gaming
2010 Speakers
  • Gary Palmer/Paul Johnson — Prairie Meadows
  • Jeff True — President, Jeff True Consulting
  • Larry Eliason — Executive Secretary, South Dakota Commission on Gaming
  • Jennifer Hancock — Director of Marketing, AQHA
  • Marsha Kelly — President, Kelly Media Consulting, Inc.
  • Robert Hartman — General Manager, Golden Gate Fields and an RTIP alum
  • Marc Anderson — Senior Director, Simulcast Operations, TrackNet Media Group, LLC.
  • Dr. Richard Sams — Professor, Florida Racing Lab
  • Georganne Hale — Director of Racing & Racing Secretary, Maryland Jockey Club
  • Dr. Lynn Hovda — Minnesota Racing Commission Regulatory Vet
  • Jeff Johnston — Regional Guild Representative for the Jockeys’ Guild
  • Stuart Glogoff — Senior Consultant, Learning Technologies, UA Office of Instruction and Assessment
  • Richard Scheidt — Northern California Director of Operations, Thoroughbred Owners of California
  • Alex Waldrop — President & CEO, NTRA
  • Steve Fedunak — Mutuels Manager, Sunland Park Race Track & Casino
  • Erin Owens — Chair, Arizona Racing Commission; Chair, RCI
  • Kevin Mullally — General Council & Director of Government
  • Edwin Anthony — Pedigree Consultant
2009 Speakers
  • Mr. Louis J. Raffetto, Jr. — CEO, National Steeplechase Association
  • Mr. Roxy Roxborough
  • Mr. Nick Clarke — former Managing Director International Racing Bureau
  • Mr. Rob Terry — Vice President of Simulcasting, Racing & Gaming Services, Inc.
  • Mr. Paul Nauta
  • Frank Hopf — Simulcast Director, Sam Houston Race Park
  • Dr. Scott Stanley — Associate Professor, University of California-Davis
  • Mary Scollay — Equine Medical Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
  • Dean Hoffman — Hoffman Communications, LLC
  • Pat Tarnay — Account Executive, Las Vegas Dissemination
  • Robert Hartman — General Manager, Golden Gate Fields
  • Marsha Kelly — President, Kelly Media Consulting, Inc.
  • Mike Kintner — Assistant Director of Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino
  • Sean Mason — Senior Technical Analytical Engineer, Gaming Laboratories International
  • Dan Perlsweig — Retired Trainer and Part-time Blood Stock Agent
  • Larry Eliason — Executive Secretary, South Dakota Commission on Gaming
2008 Speakers
  • Darcy Hitesman — Hitesman & Associates, P.A.
  • Brad Hennegan — Independent Film-maker and Co-Producer, "The First Saturday in May"
  • Robert Hartman — General Manager, Golden Gate Fields and RTIP Alumnus
  • Mike Kintner — Assistant Director of Marketing, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino
  • Dr. Norman Hester — Technical Director, Truesdail Laboratories, Inc.
  • Marsha Kelly — President, Kelly Media Consulting, Inc.
  • Bob Harris — Sr. Editor, Football Diehards Magazine
  • Rick Hammerle — Racing Secretary, Santa Anita Park
  • Tom Persechino — Senior Director of Marketing, American Quarter Horse Association
  • Chuck Geffen — CEO, Branding Rights
  • Larry Swartzlander — Director Of Operations, California Authority of Racing Fairs
  • Kevin Mullally — General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs, Gaming Laboratories International, Inc.
  • Amy Crowfoot — Mathematician, Gaming Laboratories International, Inc.
  • Margo Flynn — Director of Public Relations, Tampa Bay Downs
  • Constantin Rieger — Executive Director, Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission
  • Scott Wells — Vice President and General Manager, Remington Park
  • Liz Bracken — Director of Simulcasting, NYRA
  • Frank Taylor — Taylor Made Farms
  • Arthur Mayberry — Brooks-Mayberry, Inc.
  • Ameet Patel — Pen National Gaming, Inc.
  • Ed Martin — President, Association of Racing Commissioners International
  • Doug O'Neill — Owner, O'Neill Racing Stable
  • Eric Anderson — Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agent
  • Frank Mirahmadi — Announcer, Turf Paradise
2007 Speakers
  • Kent H. Stirling — Executive Director, Florida Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association
  • Tae-In Jung — Assistant Manager, Korea Racing Authority and Executive in Residence, University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program
  • Vernon Niven — Executive Vice President Technical Initiatives, Churchill Downs, Inc.
  • Ron Geary — President, Ellis Park Race Course
  • Joe Harper — President/General Manager, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
  • Paul Porter — Director of Simulcasting, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and RTIP Alum
  • Jim Altrichter — President, Smart Button Associates, Inc
  • Dean Hoffman — Owner, Hoffman Communications, LLC
  • Dennis Moore — Owner, Track Tek Inc.
  • Patricia Shirley — Trainer
  • Dr. Rick Arthur — Equine Medical Director, California Horse Racing Board
  • Larry Eliason — Executive Secretary, South Dakota Commission on Gaming
  • Dr. Eliot Narotsky — Racing Secretary, Maywood Park
  • Robert Butcher — Director Pari-Mutuels, Keeneland Association, Inc.
  • Jack Ketterer — Administrator, Iowa Racing And Gaming Commission
  • Steve Keech — President, AmTote International, Inc.
  • Mike Kintner — Casino Marketing Manager, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino
  • Hank Mills — Arizona Steward, Canterbury Steward and this year's Presiding Steward for Minnesota
2006 Speakers
  • Geoff Andres — Vice President and General Manager, Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino Resort
  • Gibson Carothers — Writer and Marketing Consultant
  • Richard Castro — President, Pari-Mutuel Employees Guild Local 280
  • Dr. Jennifer Durenberger — Associate veterinarian for NYRA
  • Mary Forney — Director of Operations, Thoroughbred Owners of California
  • Victor Harrison — Director of North American Sales, United Tote
  • Mike Hilliard — Racing Secretary, Phoenix Greyhound Park
  • Marsha Kelly — President, Kelly Media Consulting, Inc.
  • Tom Robbins — Director of Racing, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
  • Dr. Scott Stanley — Associate Professor, University of California
  • Steve Sexton — President, Churchill Downs Racetrack
  • Dave Sitton — Vice President for Clear Channel Communication's, University of Arizona Rugby Coach and Tucson Chamber Commerce Man of the Year
  • Clay Sparks — Trainer
  • Dr. Scot Waterman — Executive Director, Racing Medication & Testing Consortium
  • Pamela White — Senior Manager, Media & Sponsorships, NTRA