ENGLISH TEXTS ures as owners is clearly “ a powerful way to bring people back to the racetrack , where we must convert star-watchers into racegoers and bettors .” Personalization and connection with racing figures are crucial elements that elite sports can bring to the entire industry . Most racing participants and owners — even the biggest ones — remain unknown to the general public . This strategy should also include jockeys , who are essential figures in their sport . More ideas are emerging . “ We ’ ve invested in a startup called Jockyz , an online card game that highlights jockeys ,” explains Clément Troprès . “ Fifteen thousand cards featuring jockeys ’ images were sold for € 10 each , allowing players to build teams whose results are based on real-life race performances .” This concept , inspired by fantasy sports games , could create new connections between mainstream sports and horse racing . If these initiatives continue to grow , horse racing might just reclaim its popularity from the 1970s — driven by a new wave of high-profile owners emerging from the world of professional sports . Could racetracks become a new playground for the world ’ s greatest athletes ?
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
CHRONICLES
OF THE WORLD
� PAGE 62
Hannah Baycroft Saudi Arabia Hannah Baycroft is a freelance presenter , broadcaster and creative . She is based in London in the United Kingdom with her two horses and is extremely passionate about horses and horse racing . She creates content and reports from various race meetings in the UK , Ireland but also internationally , in the likes of her latest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a roving reporter .
Igor de Maack Global Economy Associate director at the wealth management firm Vitalepargne , Igor de Maack is a reference in financial market analysis . He has also invested in horses ( Écurie Nininoé ) out of passion , thanks to his friendship with Fabien Rycroft ( Écurie Elag ). Initially active in harness racing , he has diversified into flat racing , notably with horses such as Lindy and Onesto .
Katherine Ford UK Passionate about racing , Katherine left her native Yorkshire to spend six months in France in the early 2000s ... and almost 25 years later , she is still there . Now a freelance journalist and translator , she has discovered and introduced racecourses around the world for Equidia , and regularly presents French racing on Sky Sports Racing . She is also a breeder and owner of Thoroughbreds .
Romane Brionne Australie A French expatriate in Melbourne for five years , Romane has expertise as a broker , rider , and assistant trainer . Passionate about studying performance and data , she founded her data analysis company , Race Day Ready , which is growing rapidly in Australia and Hong Kong .
Vicki Gibbins Ireland + Sales As Managing Editor of LAB Racing , Vicki Gibbins has a vast knowledge and experience of racing and the wider equestrian world . With a background specialising in bloodstock , her writing can been read in a number of publications globally , including International Thoroughbred , Racing & Sports . Vicki also represents Trackside – an on-course paddock analysis service used by Weatherbys and various other customers – and is responsible for the publication of L ’ informateur .
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
165