New structure ‘will be a success’
New Zealand Bloodstock has been asked to hold its horses after announcing a major change to its Karaka Millions race day.
NZB announced yesterday that the race meeting would be held at Ellerslie on Saturday, January 28 next year, with the first session of the national yearling sales on the Sunday evening, with about 100 horses to be offered. The usual format has involved the race meeting being held on a Sunday night ahead of the first session of the sales the next morning.
‘‘I’m absolutely certain this new structure will be a success,’’ said NZB managing director Andrew Seabrook.
‘‘Selling 100 horses on Sunday night gets more horses in front of buyers early in the week, and aids the troublesome transition vendors have always faced midweek.’’
The Karaka Million race night would include a second million dollar race - the Karaka Million 3YO Classic joining the 2YO race, with four Group races also on the card.
One problem though. The race calendar for the 2017-18 season has yet to be finalised.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing put out a statement on Monday afternoon, saying it ‘‘wished to clarify’’ the situation.
‘‘While NZTR has supported moves to run the Karaka Million meeting on a Saturday and to provide an enhanced racing programme, including group racing, the details of the programme have not been finalised.
Over the next three weeks, NZTR will be consulting with all race clubs impacted by the proposed changes.’’
A decision would be made at its board meeting on May 11, NZTR said.
There appears little doubt the the changes will be implemented, but the announcement by NZB appears to have jumped the gun as far as the race day approval goes.
It’s the sort of embarrassing gaffe the industry could have done without on the day when a new Racing Minister was appointed.
David Bennett, the MP for Hamilton East, takes over the role from Nathan Guy - but unlike Guy, he is not a member of Cabinet.
His big job as far as the racing industry is concerned will be to shepherd the yet-to-be-introduced race fields legislation, through Parliament. The proposal will see overseas betting agencies having to pay to use New Zealand race fields.