Proposed programme for a return to racing
Today we have released a proposed calendar for August through to early November to give owners, trainers and racing participants some certainty for the next six months. This follows the RITA announcement for consultation of the revised racing calendar for the balance of the 2019/20 racing year earlier today, which included the month of July for Thoroughbred Racing.
We acknowledge that the situation in the national fight against COVID-19 is changing rapidly, and accordingly final decisions about the programme of racing for August-November will be made by early July.
We are targeting a return to racing from 1 July as long as we can do this safely and in accordance with the strict Government and public health obligations.
The proposed calendar (which can be found here) remains subject to final approval by the RITA Dates Committee, following the usual consultation processes*.
We can’t confirm industry funding or stakes levels until we get more information from RITA on its 20/21 budget. We felt it was important that the industry get some draft racing dates so we can start getting horses ready for racing.
These are extreme circumstances and it is a difficult time for everyone in racing. Every Club, every venue, every trainer and every owner has been impacted in some significant form.
Key aspects of the proposed calendar through to early November:
- Only 6 venues will be used in July
- Venues chosen for the July racing return have been selected based on:
- proximity to the horse population; and
- commercially material cost savings for RITA by racing at tracks with broadcast transmission by low cost fibre rather than expensive satellite uplink
- Revised Jumps racing programme only in the North Island
- Revised Group & Listed programme
- The number of meetings and venues used builds up as the calendar progresses into the new season
- Dates have been allocated on the assumption travel, and attendance, will be limited due to a COVID-19 alert level restriction.
The focus for the August through November period has been on allocation of meetings by Venue. We reiterate that every Club has a role to play in the future of NZ racing and allocation of licences to Clubs will be considered as part of the consultation phase for 20/21.
These are incredibly challenging times and we must focus on what is best for thoroughbred racing and what will get the most horses back racing as quickly as possible.
In working up the proposed calendar 55 trainers have been contacted, and then deeper discussions have been held with trainer representatives, the Pattern and Jumps Committees, club administrators and NZTR personnel.
All those who worked on the calendar have had to step away from tradition, consider the future of the industry, and structure a calendar to fit this new environment. It’s a complex piece of work to deliver a cohesive spring calendar which will allow trainers and owners to plan campaigns for their horses.
We would like to acknowledge those Clubs which could be adversely impacted, including the Canterbury JC. While retaining their three-day NZ Cup Meeting it is proposed in the indicative calendar that the Guineas races could be transferred North for the 20/21 season only, depending on the NZTR Board’s assessment of the position in early July.
Looking beyond the resume racing phase, the NZTR Board is now focussed on a piece of work where we will move to reshape the industry’s future, but this has only just begun.
Thank you for your support of Thoroughbred Racing.
Dr Alan Jackson, Chairman and Bernard Saundry, Chief Executive
* The RITA Dates Committee, who determine the Annual Dates Calendar, have a legislative requirement to consult with each of the recognised industry organisations on the proposed dates, allocation, and conditions and expect to consult on a draft 2020/21 calendar in mid-May.
