Times are changing… have you used cash, or sent any snail mail recently? Racing has already been disrupted in Singapore, Macau and elsewhere. PETA, social media with its Influencers, and others skilful in Digital Persuasion are making their mark… orchestrating opinion about the ethics of racing… and doing damage to the industry, as we speak. What we’ve always done – same-old same-old – no longer works. This presentation about this New World, by an old man – the new Chair of the ICRAV ExCo – will suggest a plan: one that embraces our considerable strengths, and that caters to the psychology of those we must appeal to. We have many virtues and much to be proud of. To handle disruption, we will need to be disruptive – try something different – ourselves. We need to engage younger people; and we must establish this connection before they ‘make up their mind’ about racing … psychologists say this happens by age 14. The presentation will describe how racing can use its strengths; to sustain people’s innate connection with animals; and to remove barriers to bonding with the animals and people in the racing community. ABSTRACT Peter Symons is a vet [University of Melbourne] for 40+ years, a racehorse regulatory vet [in Perth, WA] for 30+ years, and an ICRAV attendee, without fail, for 30 years I also have a BA [English]; and my best-ever decision has been aborting [after seven hours] an English Channel swim Dr Peter Symons Perth Racing, Ascot, WA, Australia Is Racing Ready for Disruption? 14 ICRAV 2026
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