DURING the IFHA conference Louis Romanet commemorated the accomplishments of the past 50 years of the annual forum, as well as addressing the core opportunities and challenges to international horse racing for the future.

The first conference held in 1967 was chaired by Romanet’s father Jean, and there were 14 attendees from nine countries. Monday’s conference had delegates from 52 countries, with a number of other racing executives and media. Further back, in 1961, it was Marcel Boussac and Jean Romanet who gathered representatives from Ireland, France, Britain and the USA and their work eventually resulted in the 1967 international gathering.