As we look towards 2021, the NZTR Board and staff want to thank you, our industry participants, for your resilience, support, and effort during the past 12 months.

We have learned much from 2020 with our experiences including: COVID shutdowns; Government and TAB support; innovating the racing program; delivering Cambridge’s new synthetic track; changing the footprint of our racetracks; the wholehearted support from owners and punters upon the return to racing; and better understanding the international opportunities to sell NZ thoroughbred racing. You have all played a role, and the disruption of 2020 has provided us with a chance to innovate and change the way we do business in the future.

As we look to the New Year, the new constituted NZTR Board is ready to deliver the next phase of growth for NZ thoroughbred racing.

Our key areas of focus will include:

• The racing product - ensuring we innovate to maximise domestic and international wagering and revenue for the sport in NZ.
• Infrastructure - improving standards to drive an increase in owner and punter participation.
• Training and development - improving opportunities for our people, including attracting new participants.
• Clubs - working with clubs to develop a sustainable racing model for each region of NZ.
• Marketing and PR - developing an overarching marketing and promotional strategy, one that is inclusive of and supported by NZTR, clubs and industry stakeholders.
• Other assets - explore asset aggregation and new sources of revenue for NZ thoroughbred racing.

We see the next phase as a time to challenge ourselves, using this opportunity to work together to deliver improved financial outcomes to invest in prizemoney, clubs, thoroughbred welfare and improved infrastructure.

We want to make 2021 a year of change and exploring different ways of working. This will require leadership from the NZTR Board and Management, along with the support of, and new thinking from all participants.

Thank you for your support and happy New Year.

Cameron George, NZTR Chairman

Bernard Saundry, NZTR CEO