Happy Sunrise

This Saturday, 1 August 2020, the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) will become TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ).The change marks a significant milestone in the history of the TAB and the racing industry. It also brings to an end a 13-month period of transitioning, as RITA, from the New Zealand Racing Board.The creation of TAB NZ is part of the final steps in a transformation that started back in April 2018 when John Messara was appointed by the Minister for Racing Rt Hon Winston Peters to undertake his review of the New Zealand racing industry.As you know, the changes are taking place as a result of the Racing Industry Act 2020 coming into force. This new Act requires the TAB to have a sole focus on our customers and to maximise its profits for the racing industry and returns for sports, while at the same time ensuring the risks of problem and underage gambling are managed. For the Codes, they now have the power to move forward in a way that hadn’t been previously possible by having responsibility for the promotion and development of their sports.Fortunately, with industry funding retained at budgeted 2019/20 levels, the inaugural racing calendar, under the new industry framework, has been given the best possible chance of resuming strongly, despite the significant impact of COVID-19. This has been achieved by taking approximately $20 million of costs out of the TAB, new income from the passing of the Racing Industry Act (betting levy and information use charges) and thanks to the critical industry support package from the Government.As we prepare for the move to TAB New Zealand, the Board has also been focused on ensuring that the executive leadership for the ‘future TAB’ is fit for purpose and has the right capabilities necessary to ensure the organisation's success and sustainability.As a result, we have made some changes to the structure of the leadership team, while also reducing the number of roles which will report into the Chief Executive. We’ve landed on a structure that we believe will be best placed to take us through the next phase of the organisation with four General Managers covering Customer and Betting, Broadcasting and Operations, Corporate and Governance Services, and Finance. An internal process is currently underway to fill these roles, and if we are unable to fill them within the TAB then we’ll advertise them externally.The intent is to implement the structure on 1 September.As you know, the current Board continues until after the election when the Minister for Racing in the new Government will determine how they wish to proceed with appointing a new Chair and Board. Naturally, this will need to be progressed before finalising the appointment of a CE. We remain hopeful we will have the right person on board by the end of the year, as we have indicated internally, but this will also be potentially subject to other variables, such as the status of travel into the country. We’ll update everyone when we know more.As we transition to TAB New Zealand we do so knowing that, despite the enormous challenges presented by COVID, RITA has delivered on the Racing Minister's expectations which were set out last year. The Board is grateful for his ongoing commitment and support, as well as from those across Government and Parliament who have supported the charge to reform the industry over the past two years.The industry has also responded well to the challenges posed by COVID, resuming with competitive racing, strong fields and providing great content for our customers to bet on. All participants should be congratulated for their effort and commitment.While it’s early days yet and there’s still considerable, ongoing uncertainty overseas, we can look forward to a newly reformed industry next week, cautiously optimistic of the year ahead.

When are the big announcements happening? Meant to be this week. Nothing on twitter or Lincoln Farms website. Aren't they the official channels for distributing important information?

I doubt a galloping Aveross Spitfire could keep up with Missalyssa. It is always cool when horses suddenly hit their straps like her. I hope the same happens for the Spitfire even if it is for just one day when it wins or runs a placing.

Who? 😂

If it is that bad you can go hang out with Scooby and Pounder on the other site and discuss harness racing over there if you wish. Just tell us how you get on.

What does that have to do with it?

John Dunn's drive on Spellbound would be even more questionable than the Jimmy Cannon one. He had heaps of time to come out before the advancing runner but didn't.

Just to confuse me more about how things operate in harness, Auckland announces its stakes for the new season before HRNZ release the funding for the code. Owners relieved as Auckland Trotting Club confirms its stakes will rise in the new season By Barry Lichter • 24 July 2020 Northern trainers and owners breathed a sigh of relief today when the Auckland Trotting Club revealed its prizemoney levels for the new season which dwarf the post COVID-19 stakes. In what could help stem the loss of further horses to Australia, the club will pay maidens a minimum stake of $12,000, the intermediate grades $14,500 and the top class $17,500. While not as high as the $15,000, $20,000 and $25,000 stakes offered pre-COVID, they compare favourably with the present basic stake of $8500 where meetings feature only two $12,000 races for the top horses. In a tentative programme for the first meeting of the new season at Alexandra Park on Thursday, August 6, 1700 metre free-for-alls have been carded for the top pacers and trotters worth $17,500. ATC vice president Jamie MacKinnon said he believed the stakes had held up pretty well and he hinted the club was continuing to try to find even more money for some of its non Group race features. “We first wanted to make sure the minimum was high enough so the majority of owners can at least win a couple of months’ training fees. “But we are also working hard to be able to further prop up some of our features which are a bit light, races like the Spring Cup and Holmes DG. They’ve got to be at least $20,000 or $25,000 and I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to do that.” While the club was under considerable pressure with its building project, its revenue streams were improving through rent and gaming machines, businesses which had always supported stakes and the running of its meetings. “The ATC has always put in more money than we’ve received in funding and we will continue to do that.” MacKinnon said it had been a long process while Harness Racing New Zealand determined what funding it needed and what should be put into Group racing but it was now all go. The news comes in advance of any announcement from Harness Racing New Zealand which has yet to declare its new funding policy and what that means for the country’s clubs, acting CEO Phil Holden promising in a video interview on Wednesday that all would be revealed next week. Holden apologised for the length of time it had taken HRNZ to notify people about the new stakes but explained that club funding had been overhauled to allow greater transparency. The Auckland stakes are higher than those the New Zealand Metropolitan Club will offer for its first two Friday nights in August where the stakes range between $10,000 and $12,500 and the best two races on August 14 are worth $15,000.

Need First 5s.

I''m speechless.

Classic, Rusty.

You need to talk to more millennials and get educated 😂

Same old story of trying to fool someone with thinking the medium of conveying the content is more important the content itself. It is a trendy continuation from lockdown, a great way to share the message to our stakeholders blah blah. Well, it isn't if you don't share all the hard work one does in detail. 7 minutes is a pittance.

Holden said they would on Chatting with the Chief.

Especially when it is an arm chair ride for the interviewee.

Is nearly 7 minutes long but has about 30 seconds worth of information in this friendly propaganda piece. No mention of the clubs being shafted or if they are fighting back. https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/chatting-with-the-chief-22-july/

Me too. The odds will be set by the allocation of drivers no doubt but you would have to be in the know to bet on it.

and again. Going to be enjoyable seeing the odds set for these races.

A sign of things to come. One day I think the All Stars will have a race to themselves. Is there any point in debating the healthiness of this? Probably not.

And what do the RIU see from this race? Whip use! JIMMY CANNON - when spoken to regarding the gelding's improved performance trainer J Alford explained the horse had raced too keenly last week leading him to make several gear changes this week which had allowed the horse to settle throughout. He added that his runner today had enjoyed an economical run and met a field which was a significant drop back in calibre than recently encountered opposition. Driver M Anderson was spoken to regarding his use of the whip and an Information was opened and adjourned by the JCA until the NZ Metropolitan TC meeting on 24 July 2020. If they go back 2 starts it went an improver's race. RIU would be the worst punter's in the world but I have always thought that. As for the whip use, I counted 12 for Jimmy and he shook the reins a lot in those too. 11 on Brantley. Go for your life RIU. Try defining what constitutes one use of the whip. And you lot have to open and adjourn an information. I certainly hope Matt Anderson has priors to warrant this.

Short spell I imagine, your wife (owner and trainer) will not deal with your cantankerous behaviour in the paddock when you have a sneak peek at BOAY and want to talk to HER about what you have read. You will be put in your hopples very quickly. You will go well fresh too.

You have the best comments on here. Let some be parochial. Who cares 😂

That is not possible with that Scooby in charge of the other one. I disagree with your assessment of the drive and I am not saying I am right.

He drove the horse extremely well. Didn't spend a penny throughout. He may have been beaten tactically by Brantley in a split second. If he gets 2 months for that drive I will give up harness racing.

The driver of Lennox Bromac didn't pull out in front of Brantley either. Anderson also saved lengths by not going 3 wide around the bend, regardless of whether he got caught napping by how fast Brantley went by. Don't think the horse was boxed in at any stage. Only got a run? But it did get a run. This didn't actually happen so is a moot point. There is no way he should get a holiday. The race changed very quickly with Brantley sprinting so quickly.