Surprise reprieve for three venues

A dramatic U-turn from the underfire Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) has seen three highprofile racing venues slated for closure, just six weeks ago, earn a reprieve.

But it could be short-lived. West Auckland thoroughbred track Avondale was proposed for closure as was Dunedin’s Forbury Park trotting and greyhound tracks and Blenheim’s Waterlea Raceway.

RITA announced, in mid-May, a dramatic proposal to not allocate dates in its draft calendar to 14 venues for the 2020-2021 season that begins on August 1.

RITA, a reconstitution of the New Zealand Racing Board, was saved from insolvency by a $50 million taxpayer-funded bailout that was announced by Minister for Racing Winston Peters in May.

The significant changes to the racing calendar come following consultation with the three racing codes and their clubs.

One hundred submissions were received, according to RITA.

RITA has been hammered by the racing industry in recent months for its current decision making around slashing costs and the alleged mismanagement when operating under the racing board moniker.

Avondale has always been a hot topic because the Avondale Jockey Club owns and manages a hugely valuable land asset in West Auckland that has been estimated at being worth as much as $300 million.

Avondale has five dates for the new season in the calendar released yesterday but along with Forbury Park Trotting Club, who have been allocated ten dates, the reprieve could be a short as 12 months.

The two clubs licences for the next 12 months, from August 1, are conditional on regional reviews of racing in the Auckland and Dunedin districts being completed by 31 December 2020. The recommended outcomes of those reviews are to be considered prior to RITA’s allocation of dates for the 2021/22 season.

The three racing codes have previously encouraged clubs to continue if they lose their venue and hold meetings at another track but clubs have been sceptical of that being a success.

‘‘The development of regional plans for domestic racing will not only provide certainty for clubs and venues, it will also help strengthen the viability of the industry in New Zealand’s regions,’’ RITA’s dates committee chair Edward Rennell said. ‘‘The committee strongly encourages all racing codes and clubs to have well-formed plans in place prior to the commencement of consultation later this year on the 2021/22 racing calendar,’’ Rennell said.

Waterlea Raceway will remain operational for harness dates only and has not won back its thoroughbred meetings.

Despite the significant changes to the draft calendar, released in mid-May, there are no fairytale reprieves for Gisborne, Orari, Stratford, Te Awamutu, Te Teko, Waikouaiti, Waimate, Waipukurau, Wairoa and Wyndham who have had their closures as race venues confirmed.

Roxburgh’s trotting track has been spared in the changes while Timaru’s Phar Lap Raceway, Manawatu Raceway, Gore, Tauherenikau and Otaki have had their harness racing dates they were proposed to lose, reinstated.