Vice pres >February 13, 2015
By David Vance
Ramon Rionda has dedicated a very long time to horse race in Latin America, and on the way he has witnessed a landscape that is ever-changing has required constant changes with regards to business priorities. Like racetracks within the united states of america and across the world, terms like branding and packaging and item distribution—unfamiliar to rushing somewhat significantly more than a decade ago—have get to be the primary focus for South United states songs.
Rionda spent my youth within the sport as a result of their dad’s love for race and reproduction. Today, he’s effortlessly one of many planet’s race track executives that are busiest in the part as vice president of race for Codere, a significant international video gaming business located in Madrid, Spain.
All of it began for Rionda being a 5-year-old as he would join their household for the time of rushing at Hipodromo de las America in Mexico City, as well as other songs throughout Latin America. His daddy, Ramon Rionda Sr., had been a effective breeder and owner whom competed in the highest degree. Commitment towards the sport has allowed the son become earnestly active in the development of a business that is completely new from their times as a fan.
“we nevertheless love the horse racing—the pageantry, your competitors, the challenges—but the company model has brought in a footprint that is completely new” he stated. “Today, it is about developing a brand that is successful then packaging and circulating it correctly. Competition for the video video video gaming and activity group of fans calls for an infinitely more imaginative approach as a practical company consideration.”
Codere has over 57,000 video video video gaming devices global and it is an active owner and supervisor of competition tracks in Mexico, Uruguay, Panama, and Brazil.
Rionda is intimately active in the day-to-day challenges associated with specific tracks, while additionally attempting to guide the growth that is overall of’s race division.
“I’ll acknowledge I never expected being this mixed up in day-to-day operations of many tracks, while additionally attempting to understand picture that is big regards to development,” he stated during a rest from their travels to go to a Codere procedure. “It is extremely challenging, but it is something i like doing. With multiple operations, you will find numerous conditions that should be addressed on a day-to-day foundation.
“Fortunately, we now have solid administration workers at most of our properties. They enable me personally to try and concentrate on brand brand new possibilities and make an effort to be proactive for the reason that regard. I could be obligated to be much more reactive and lose sight associated with main target, which will be growing the organization. without them,”
The expansion of simulcasting and account deposit wagering, for instance, therefore the proven fact that Codere’s songs in Latin America all come under the time that is same whilst the united states of america, creates a much greater window of opportunity for prospective development.
“All tracks—not simply within the U.S. or Latin America—are up against the task to cultivate their company by adopting the number of choices aided by the technology that is new. Your competition for the video gaming and activity buck is genuine,” Rionda stated. “which www.brightbrides.net/argentina-brides/ means we have to nevertheless keep our give attention to key consumer service—the patron—while that is on-track acknowledging the really challenging opportunities for sharing our signals and getting quality racing through off-track wagering and simulcasting and ADWs. It is a mix that is fascinating modifications daily.
“As a business, item circulation has transformed into the goal that is primary and then we feel we must introduce the areas to Latin racing. We feel it’s a well-kept key in the united states.”
With Latin breeders becoming way more active during the horse product product product sales in Kentucky, Florida and ny, and breeders that are prominent in major farm operations in Lexington and Ocala, Rionda is motivated by current development and increased understanding.
“It is my task to reveal our item to as much racing jurisdictions as you can, together with convenience utilizing the time areas helps it be more available and much more appealing,” he said. “There’s no concern it is an universe that is expanding therefore being aggressive in areas common into the retail company additionally connect with horse race today.
Rionda recently made plans for the sign from Hipodromo de las Americas to be gotten via TwinSpires.com.
“which is a significant first faltering step,” he stated. “the rise into the Hispanic populace in the U.S. means our target demographics enhance substantially, meaning we could drive more prospective battle fans to ADWs aswell as simulcast parlors and competition songs for the U.S.
“Ideally, it turns into a win-win idea.”
A normal week for Rionda is definately not normal. While wanting to orchestrate the continuing company potential from his workplace at Codere America headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, their existence is obviously required at one of many songs. That produces for an incredibly demanding travel routine, including occasions as he must travel to Mexico to satisfy with administration workers at Hipodromo de las Americas, or even to Panama, where Hipodromo Presidente Remon is based. He also represents Codere’s passions in the board of directors at Hipodromo Nacional de Maronas in Montevideo, Uruguay.
In addition, Rionda provides his expertise being a help arm for Codere Brazil’s administration operations, that is run by handling manager Andre Gelfi. An additional pioneering move for the gaming giant, Gelfi recently announced a special joint contract to deliver the race sign from Jockey Club Parana, in Curitiba, a town of 2 million individuals about 200 kilometers from Sao Paulo, with other racing jurisdictions global.
“Like we stated, we now have really capable administration workers after all of our locations and therefore relieves lots of force for me personally, however, many times it is simply necessary that we be on location if you can find problems that need my own attention,” Rionda explained.
Because of the travel needs, Rionda admits himself to sleep whenever possible in a slightly reclined airplane seat or in an airline terminal that he has conditioned. “It is perhaps maybe not a bad in my situation. It really is the thing I should do to obtain the working work done. Thus I just take action,” he stated.
Rionda, whom talks four languages fluently, everyday lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, together with spouse, Jennifer, and child, Sophia.
Rionda and Codere and also the federal federal government of Panama recently hosted the Clasico del Caribe, the most prestigious races for 3-year-olds in Latin America, for the 2nd year that is straight. Horses off their countries that are latin yearly in case. In 2010’s competition attracted 3-year-olds that are top Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Panama. The 2013 contest ended up being won by Diamante Negro, representing Mexico.
“The passion stays for horse racing in Latin nations,” he stated. “the process now could be to look at the way we can collectively expand our perspectives through innovative advertising and provided company goals. We face the exact same needs for industry synergy once the United States faces. It is as much as us to remain in the leading edge and discover an effective way by using the characteristics of Thoroughbred rushing using the brand new technology. For the reason that respect, the impact never ever stops to change.”