Night trotting at Forbury in doubt
THE curtain may be about to come down on night trotting at Forbury Park.
A draft of the new racing calendar is set to be released in the next couple of days and it is believed Forbury Park has missed out on holding any meetings next season.
The new season starts on August 1.
The Racing Industry Transition Authority, which runs the TAB, is seeking to slash 30% of its workforce and is cutting costs to stay afloat, and it is believed to have given the thumbs down to racing at Forbury Park and also Manawatu.
The St Kilda track was set to hold 20 meetings this season but lost more than half of them when the decision was made to move meetings because of the Covid19 pandemic.
It last hosted a race meeting in early March.
Racing started at Forbury Park in 1870, harness racing followed in 1909 and lights were installed in 1960.
Forbury Park chief executive Della Henderson said last night the calendar was only a draft and up for consultation.
A meeting with Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Peter Jensen was set for today.
IN a further blow to racing in the South, up to a dozen Trackside workers are set to be made redundant and no broadcasting crew will be stationed in the region.
Racing Minister Winston Peters announced a $72.5 million rescue package for the racing industry on Tuesday but it is too late for many in this part of the world.
Veteran Southland race caller Dave McDonald has also been let go
The Racing Industry Transition Authority (RITA), which runs the TAB, announced last week it was looking to let go 30% of its workforce as it looks to slash costs.
Betting revenue has plunged over the past couple of months, leading to the decision to cut costs.
Trackside has a team of about 12 based in Dunedin, some who work parttime, covering meetings in the south of the South Island.
RITA is proposing to get rid of all of them and fly staff down from Christchurch to cover meetings in the South.
Trackside coverage is expected to be significantly cut back.
Fewer cameras will be used at meetings and there will be a reduction in people on course.
The emphasis is set to shift to coverage of races as RITA switches to an emphasis on straight racing product.
It is considering stopping overthecounter oncourse betting and the end to phone betting. Four retail outlets are set to close.
A RITA spokesman said yesterday nothing had been decided and consultation was being undertaken. A decision was due by the end of the month.
After 40 years of calling, McDonald is no longer employed although new southern caller Justin Evans is believed to have been kept on.
Racing may have started up again — greyhounds began last week — but meetings are thin on the ground. Meetings set to be staged in Otago have been shifted to Invercargill to be nearer the horse population.
A harness meeting will take place in Invercargill on May 30 with thoroughbred racing due to resume on July 1.