An summit meeting on insurance in racing will be a part of this year's University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's 29th Annual Symposium on Racing. The symposium runs December 10-13 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, with the insurance summit beginning at 8 a.m. on December 10.

"This problem isn't going to go away," said Remi Bellocq, executive director of the national Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association. "We haven't seen underwriting come back as quickly as we'd like. We need to face this issue head on."

Racing Commissioners International President Lonny Powell will moderate the summit with panelists from eight different organizations engaging in discussion on the issue of insurance throughout the industry. Florida HBPA President Linda Mills and McGriff, Seibels, & Williams, Inc. Vice President Randall Hampton also will present Florida's new approach to securing workers' compensation insurance for the state's backstretch workers.

Panelists include National HBPA President John Roark, Thoroughbred Racetrack Association Executive Vice President Chris Scherf, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Executive Director Bob Flynn, and California Thoroughbred Trainers Executive Director Ed Halpern, a key figure in California's struggle to obtain affordable workers' compensation insurance for trainers.

Representatives of the Jockeys' Guild will also address the need for an all-inclusive national insurance program for jockeys.

Following the 8 a.m. summit, participants will meet at 1 p.m. for a strategic planning session to develop action plans and work toward a long-term solution. The recommendations will then go to the Industry initiatives panel during the Wednesday session of the symposium.

"We want to look at this from a long-term perspective," said Dan Fick, director of racing for the American Quarter Horse Association. "The industry should not expect any quick fixes from this summit. We need to address insurance and horse racing from a national perspective like we are with medication."