Page 24 - Speedhorse, December 2018

AQHA RACING UPDATE
DECEMBER 2018
AQHA Racing Update
by Janet VanBebber, AQHA Chief Racing Officer
“. . . there were topics that were very pertinent to the industry, and attendees stayed engaged during each lengthy discussion . . .”
Janet VanBebber
Greetings from your Chief Racing Officer!
Do you want to know something amusing? When I retired from training, I thought I could also retire my luggage. In the days since Nov. 1 and through the upcoming end of the year, I will have been on a plane weekly – with little time at home. I’ve not retired my luggage – but I have worn it out!
Since the last opportunity to write, my schedule has been amazingly busy, yet wonder- fully productive. Many of you came to Los Alamitos in November and participated in our 2018 Racing Conference and enjoyed as we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the AQHA
Challenge Championships. If you weren’t there, you missed a fantastic gathering. Each meeting enjoyed dramatic growth in attendance, with an Affiliate/Racetrack Workshop that attracted 45 participants, the Racing Committee meeting that had 120 Committee Members and guests, and
the Racing Council meeting was standing room only. As outlined in my last report, there were topics that were very pertinent to the industry, and attendees stayed engaged during each lengthy discussion. It was, indeed, an exercise in endur- ance, and I appreciate everyone for the enthusiasm reflected in each gathering.
The AQHA delegation in Argentina included Chief International Officer Dr. Anna Morrison, Executive Committee Member Butch Wise, AQHA Director Vince Genco, AQHA President Dr. Jim Heird and Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber.
22 SPEEDHORSE, December 2018