Bernard's Blog: 31 May 19

31 May, 2019
Photo: Peter Rubery, Racing images One area where NZTR has been active lately, which has possibly flown under the radar, is around education.

Bernard's Blog: 24 May 19

24 May, 2019
This week you may have noticed the appearance of videos on our website and social channels from track managers leading up to their race days. This is something which had its origins from th

New Tarzino Trophy ballot exemptions for 2019

23 May, 2019
Hawke’s Bay Racing has announced that the winner and runner-up in the 2019 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (Gr 2) 1200m at Te Rapa will be provided ballot free exemptions into the 2019 Tarzino Trophy (Gr 1) 1400m at Hastings two weeks later. Now in its third year, the $200,000 Tarzino Trophy will be run on Saturday, 31 August. Last year’s Foxbridge Plate runner up Julius was withdrawn the week of the race after looking unlikely to get a start in the Tarzino. The previous year Foxbridge Plate runner up Close Up came in off the ballot on race day morning before scoring a memorable Group One win in the Tarzino Trophy. “While we are comfortable with the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) ballot conditions for Group 1 races, the fact that the Tarzino is so early in the season makes it very hard for horses to improve their order of entry,” Hawke’s Bay Racing CEO Andrew (Butch) Castles said. “By allowing the winner (who would get into the Tarzino anyway) and runner-up a ballot exemption, we believe we are fixing an anomaly that saw Close Up and Julius struggle to get runs in the first of our three Group 1’s,” Castles said. Nominations for the three Group 1 races that make up the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival triple crown - Tarzino Trophy 1400m, Windsor Park Plate 1600m and Livamol Classic 2040m - will be taken on Tuesday, 16 July with the National Racing Bureau.

Trial meeting sees the end of an era

21 May, 2019
Today’s trial meeting at Rangiora marks a milestone in New Zealand racing. The meeting will be serviced by a new set of transportable, 14-gate Simtrack starting stalls, replacing the

Bernard's Blog: 17 May 19

17 May, 2019
Salvation Army Welfare Support Staff team member Andrew McKerrow photo: Supplied Last wee

Veteran Track Manager Garry Foskett Receives Service Award

16 May, 2019
Garry Foskett (right) is presented with his Service Award by Tim Lambert, NZTR's team leader - racing tracks and infrastructure.

Handicapping Changes Announced

14 May, 2019
Three minor changes have been made to the NZTR handicapping policy, following the annual meeting of the NZTR Handicap Review Committee. The maximum re-rating for winning non-black ty

Bernard's Blog: 10 May 19

10 May, 2019
How do you get your racing information? Chances are, if you are reading this blog, then you, like many others now get the information you want, online. You are not alone.  The

Bernard's Blog: 3 May 19

3 May, 2019
Bernard Saundry happy to meet Sir Patrick Hogan, Sir Tristram and Rick Williams Photo: Supplied This blog has met with an inte

Special Review of Integrity Services

26 April, 2019
The Messara Report recommended a review of the RIU and associated integrity bodies.  That review has now been announced by the Ministerial Advisory Committee. The