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The Asian Racing Conference was renamed at the 28th Conference in 2001 and became the Asian Racing Federation (ARF). The first conference was held in Tokyo in 1960, attended by 69 delegates from 12 racing organisations representing seven countries. The ARF Conference, held approximately every 2 years since that time, now includes 20 countries with each meeting attended by more than 600 delegates. The 31st conference was held in Dubai from 21-25 January 2007. (http://www.arcdubai2007.com) The objectives of ARF are to foster goodwill and mutual understanding and to improve the standards of racing in Asia. Each meeting enables the exchange of current trends, ideas and information amongst delegates to work towards a common goal. The ARF has a seat on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC). In 2007 Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, was elected Chairman of the Council with Mr Robert Charley AO and Isamu Takizawa, Presidential Counselor for Foreign Affairs JRA appointed as Vice Chairmen. The Executive Council meets once or twice a year in Paris in October and either in Hong Kong or Dubai in between. The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the ARF Executive Council sit on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. The ARF Secretary-General also acts as a permanent technical advisor at meetings of the IFHA Executive Council. ARF member countries:
The ARF Secretary is Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Officer of Australian Racing Board:
Official Website: www.asianracing.org
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