NZ Racing releases proposal for return

Tuesday 21 April 2020, 6:35pm

New Zealand racing authorities have released a blueprint for a return to training and racing when the Alert 4 lockdown in place for the coronavirus pandemic is lifted.

The revised calendar proposes thoroughbred racing at selected venues from July.

"We acknowledge that the situation in the national fight against COVID-19 is changing rapidly, and accordingly final decisions about the program of racing for August-November will be made by early July," NZ Thoroughbred Racing said.

"We are targeting a return to racing from July 1 as long as we can do this safely and in accordance with the strict government and public health obligations."

NZTR said it could not yet confirm funding or prize money but said it was important to set dates so horses could get back to training.

The venues chosen for July are Counties, Waikato, Manawatu and Wanganui on the North Island and Canterbury and Southland on the South Island.

The tracks have been selected based on proximity to the horse population and commercially material cost savings at tracks with broadcast transmission by low cost fibre rather than expensive satellite uplink.

The number of meetings and venues used builds up as the calendar progresses into the new season beginning on August 1.

"These are incredibly challenging times and we must focus on what is best for thoroughbred racing and what will get the most horses back racing as quickly as possible," NZTR said.

"In working up the proposed calendar 55 trainers have been contacted, and then deeper discussions have been held with trainer representatives, the Pattern and Jumps Committees, club administrators and NZTR personnel.

"All those who worked on the calendar have had to step away from tradition, consider the future of the industry, and structure a calendar to fit this new environment.

"It's a complex piece of work to deliver a cohesive spring calendar which will allow trainers and owners to plan campaigns for their horses."

– AAP

Latest News

Prime Thoroughbreds - We have a Host of Leaders in our Team

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Prime Thor­ough­bred’s cur­rent rac­ing team is putt­ing to­gether quite a re­cord. We have 22 hors­es that have raced in our team at pre­sent. Six­teen of th­ese are win­n­ers in­clud­ing the Stakes win­n­ing trio Ru­bisa­ki, Fituese and Xtreme­time with Miss Di­vine Em and Miss In Charge run­n­ing 4th in Stakes races. This sees a stakes win­n­er to win­n­er ra­tio of 18.75% with a stake’s per­formed to win­n­er ra­tio of 31.25%. Th­ese are ex­cep­tio­n­al fig­ures.   More »

Freedmans land maiden Group One win

Saturday, 27 February 2021

Un­der-rat­ed fil­ly For­bid­den Love has emerged as an au­tumn car­ni­val smokey with a bril­liant per­for­mance to win the Sur­round Stakes at Rand­wick.  More »

Capriccio completes Damian Lane treble

Saturday, 27 February 2021

In a big day for coun­try-trained hors­es, War­r­nam­bool fil­ly Capric­cio has tak­en out the In­glis Dash for Daniel Bow­man.  More »

More news headlines »