Olczyk to Give Keynote at Owner Conference

Thoroughbred owner and NBC Sports horse racing and hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk will deliver the keynote address at OwnerView's third Thoroughbred Owner Conference at Santa Anita Park in California Nov. 2, 2016.

Olczyk played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994. Following his playing career, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins game broadcasts for Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh and provided analysis for ESPN, ESPN2, and NHL Radio. He served as head coach of the Penguins from 2003-05.

Olczyk's first broadcasting experience took place during the NHL's labor dispute in 1994 when he served as an on-air handicapper for the Thoroughbred meet at The Meadowlands in New Jersey. Years later, in his debut as a horseracing analyst on NBC Sports Network's coverage of the 2014 Gold Cup (gr. I) from Santa Anita, Olczyk correctly picked the winners in both races on the telecast: Majestic Harbor, at odds of 14-1 in the Gold Cup, and Sheza Smoke Show, at 10-1 in the Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Olcyzk then joined the Breeders' Cup telecast and became part of the Triple Crown on-air team for the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"Eddie's knowledge of and enthusiasm for the sport of horse racing is infectious," said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer for NBC Sports Group. "We are happy that what started out as a labor of love for him has turned into a regular role on our horse racing telecasts."

OwnerView, the Thoroughbred owner resource developed by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, will host the conference Oct. 31-Nov. 3, the same week as the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The presenting sponsors are Breeders' Cup, Keeneland, and The Stronach Group.

The conference is designed to educate, inform, and entertain new, prospective, and current Thoroughbred owners through a series of panels and social events.

The keynote speakers at the first two Thoroughbred owner conferences were golfer Gary Player and radio personality Jim Rome.

"Like Gary Player and Jim Rome, Eddie Olczyk maintains a deep passion for this sport and he will be sharing the perspectives of an owner, fan, and broadcaster to this conference," Jockey Club president and chief operating officer James Gagliano said. "We are extremely honored to have him as our keynote speaker, especially with the hectic schedule he has for Breeders' Cup week."

The panels for the conference include business considerations for racehorse ownership; Breeders' Cup winning owners, jockeys, and trainers; and a session about feature films with racing as a backdrop. Among the panelists are Richard Mandella, Art Sherman, Gary Stevens, Mike Smith, Laffit Pincay Jr., Dean Reeves, Barbara Banke, and John Amerman.

On behalf of Breeders' Cup, registration will include one grandstand reserved seating ticket for both World Championships racing days Nov. 4-5.

Registrations are being taken for the full conference at $750 per person. For spouses and partners who are interested in attending just the social events, a registration for social events is available at $400 per person. Both types of registrations include the Breeders' Cup tickets.

Additional information for the conference, including the agenda, speakers, and registration forms is available at the Owner View website.