NZTR announces plans to cut abandonments
NEW Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has announced plans to try to reduce the number of abandoned meetings across the country.
The country has been plagued by abandoned meetings in the past 12 months and yesterday the Waipa Racing Club meeting and the greyhound meeting at Forbury Park were abandoned.
The proposals floated by NZTR include that each venue should be required to prepare and lodge an annual track management plan with NZTR beginning this season.
NZTR is also developing a ‘‘return to racing’’ policy. The policy will require that clubs, the Racing Integrity Unit and senior riders are involved in a clear process over the two months prior to a return to racing on any track that has undergone significant remedial or construction work.
It will include guidelines relating to the holding of either trials or jumpouts before racing resumes.
Incoming track adviser Todd Treweek, will ensure an engaged and proactive approach, with advice and visits, in the leadup to meetings. There are already at least two preraceday inspections, by NZTR or the RIU, for tracks that hold fewer than three meetings a year but there will now be greater communication between NZTR and all track managers.
The track managers at the major venues will also have access to better technology early in 2019, including moisture readers and going sticks, and there will be more training opportunities for track staff.
The minimum venue guideline standards will be reviewed this season.
‘‘While the clubs are ultimately responsible for the preparation of their own tracks, it is clear that NZTR needs to be more proactive in working with the clubs in this area,’’ NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry said.
‘‘Abandonments are costly for the industry and inconvenience our stakeholders and I had a recent meeting with Tony Pike, the president of the NZ Trainers’ Association, to discuss what NZTR can do to improve the situation.
‘‘We are also aware that producing consistent track surfaces is a key factor in developing punter confidence.
‘‘We are unlikely to eliminate abandonments, even with the addition of synthetic tracks, but we believe that we can significantly reduce the number.
He said a lack of infrastructure spending in the past had been a factor in the performance of some tracks but on occasion, simple human error had been the cause.
‘‘Weather patterns have changed, and the bar has also been raised, quite correctly, in terms of health and safety issues.’’