The Jockey Club announced July 10 the speakers for its 73^rd Annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing, which will be held July 31 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., at 10 a.m. ET, following a networking breakfast that begins at 9 a.m. It will also be livestreamed on The Jockey Club’s website at jockeyclub.com.

Steve Kornacki (Chad B. Harmon photo)

Steve Kornacki, a national political correspondent for NBC News who covers horse racing, including this year’s Triple Crown, will provide the keynote address for the first half of the two-part conference.

Griffin Johnson, a social media influencer with over 14 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and X, will discuss his journey and the role influencers can play in promoting horse racing with Shannon Kelly, director of industry relations for The Jockey Club. Johnson was introduced to horse racing as an owner through America’s Best Racing’s A Stake in Stardom campaign.

Shawn Smeallie, founder of ACG Advocacy, will discuss the state of horse racing in Washington, D.C. Smeallie has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, with the executive branch, and in the private sector and, along with Tom Rooney of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and others, he was instrumental in passing favorable tax treatments for owners of Thoroughbreds in the recently passed tax bill. Smeallie was also active in helping to pass landmark legislation to bring anti-doping reform into horse racing.

A presentation examining scheduling data will be given by Fastbreak AI executives John Stewart and Chris Groer. Fastbreak AI helps optimize the business of sports through artificial intelligence-driven scheduling, operations, and sponsorship solutions.

A panel featuring Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, environmental science adviser for the New York Yankees, and Glen Kozak, executive vice president for operations and capital projects for the New York Racing Association, will examine how sports and racing adapt to changes in weather. The panel will be moderated by Jim Gagliano, The Jockey Club’s president and chief operating officer.

Everett Dobson, chair-elect of The Jockey Club, will be the second-half keynote speaker, and he will discuss his plans for the organization and The Jockey Club’s ongoing plans to help grow the sport. 

The full agenda and bios of speakers will be posted on jockeyclub.com in advance of the conference.

The Jockey Club Round Table Conference was first held July 1, 1953, in The Jockey Club office in New York City. The following year, it was moved to Saratoga Springs. Each year, the conference features discussions on critical industry topics, including aftercare, equine safety, marketing, and national uniformity, as well as international perspectives and viewpoints from outside the Thoroughbred industry.