https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/blood-on-the-floor-at-trackside-coverage-to-be-decimated-and-long-time-callers-victims/
Blood on the floor at Trackside - coverage to be decimated and long time callers victims
By Barry Lichter • 11 May 2020
TAB staff cuts will see Trackside’s coverage of racing decimated after a “blood on the floor” meeting at Petone headquarters today.
While the Racing Industry Transition Agency has made no official announcement yet inside sources say there will be no on course presenters at race meetings, except for 20 marquee events.
The knife has gone through all contractors, meaning even respected race callers like Tony Lee and Dave McDonald lose their jobs.
Only extremely limited race meeting previews will be done and the TAB will cut its on course staff to seven - with four camera people and a director, and two others.
Long time floor manager Mark Claydon has lost his job with no on course presenters to support along with make-up artists.
Only three commentators will be used in the North Island - only two of George Simon, Aaron White and Peter Earley will be retained, with the two survivors expected to call Auckland and Cambridge greyhounds if Earley is lost.
Mark Rozanowski will call the Central Districts greyhounds, but the versatile Jason Teaz is gone.
In the South Island, four callers will be used, including two in Canterbury, Matt Cross, Justin Evans and Trevor Wilkes are safe.
Only eight staff will be used in the studio - the 10 people invited to apply for the jobs include Bevan Sweeney, Brendan Popplewell, Greg O’Connor, Aidan Rodley, Marc Cookson, Pip Morris, Darryl Robinson, Pat Comerford, Nicole Simms and Emily Bosson.
Craig “The Whale” Thompson, who drove harness turnover with his Whale Watch and on-course interviews is gone as is Mick Guerin.
Trackside will essentially turn into wall-to-wall racing and directors will keep their jobs as the TAB plans to import more meetings from overseas to fill in the time. It currently airs for 217 hours a week.
Special coverage around racing carnivals will be scaled back.
Radio Trackside, suspended last month, will not be reinstated on any AM channels.
likely to be a social distancing nightmare on the 29th then
