Concerns as Cromwell left off 2017 draft listing
The Central Lakes Equestrian Club, who maintain the Cromwell racecourse, are upset that a thoroughbred race meeting for March, 2017, is not on the draft list of dates for next season.
‘‘We have been told by the Otago Racing Club that a meeting in March at Cromwell and one at Omakau about the same time are not on the draft list for next season,’’ said Gordon Stewart, a stalwart of the CLEC, a voluntary organisation.
‘‘We are very disappointed and want to know why the Otago Racing Club would not continue to race on that date,’’ he said.
The ORC would not comment when approached. ‘‘The draft list of dates is not out to the public,’’ said Hannah Catchpole, the chief executive.
Stewart said about $2.5 million had been spent on the Cromwell racecourse reserve in the past 15 years. The facility is used for a variety of events. The race meetings attract large crowds. A new running rail was installed in 2006 and a new administration building constructed the following year at a cost of $600,000.
‘‘This is significant infrastructure,’’ Stewart said.
‘‘We could look at forming our own club to race at Cromwell.’’
Confirmation of the draft list for the 2016-17 season would leave only two thoroughbred race meetings in Central Otago, one at Cromwell at the end of November or early December staged by the ORC and the other at Omakau early in January under the auspices of the Central Otago Racing Club.
A reduction in the number of race meetings is part of a strategic plan by the governing body of New Zealand thoroughbred racing to reduce the number of race meetings in NZ to 315 and the number of races to about 2500.
The plan is aimed at increasing prize money in the wake of declining horse numbers, estimated at 2% over the next five years.
‘‘NZTR is currently consulting with individual clubs on this proposal. The consultation is open and transparent; different views are being sought and will be considered,’’ said Greg Purcell, the chief executive of NZTR in a report.
The ORC began holding a race meeting at Cromwell in March, 1999. The Cromwell Jockey Club had raced on the track, usually a two day meeting in March, for 130 years before the club failed financially in 1998.
The ORC has held a race meeting at Cromwell in late November or early December from 2006.
A $50,000 race for rating 75 horses was staged at Cromwell in March, 2009.
The Wyndham Harness Racing Club has raced at Cromwell in early January since 2008. The secretary of the club, Russell Freeman, confirmed the club would apply for that date next January.