All The Aces

The only modelling you should be allowed around Mardigras is a train set. Australia seem to have got is pretty well right. Their C-19 statistics pretty much mirror ours and they haven't had stringent economic devastating level 4 lockdown that NZ has been subjected to. You will note that racing has continued over there bar Tasmania and most business's have been open as well as schools. Thousands of NZ business's have been unable to open under the government's harsh directives. Most after five weeks of being unable to trade will still be locked out for at least another two which is in fact Level 3.9. We should be straight down to Level 2 on Monday at 11:59pm. The full impact of this damage to the NZ economy won't be seen for a wee while, but it will be significant and many, many small business's won't be back trading with unemployment is forecast to be around 11-13%.

24 April 2020 NZTR CIRCULAR 2019/20 – No.24 NZTR DIRECTIVE – PROTOCOLS FOR TRAINING, TRIALLING AND RACING UNDER COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 3 Under Alert Level 3 all businesses that are permitted to resume operations need to have a COVID-19 safety plan that sets out how they’ll operate safely. NZTR has confirmed with the government that Clubs, Trainers, and training centres can undertake business activities (including importantly racing, training and trialling) under Alert Level 3. The attached Directive has been sent to WorkSafe for endorsement of the protocols. NZTR will advise of any updates that result of the WorkSafe endorsement process. The Directive that accompanies this NZTR Circular details measures that Clubs, Trainers and their staff must adhere to and form the minimum measures of a workplace health and safety plan in relation to COVID-19. Issued as a Directive, the protocols must be adhered to under the Rules of Racing. The Directive places a requirement that clubs or Trainers together with their respective staff or racing officials must develop a COVID-19 Control Plan in place to protect all individuals at the workplace or sites where training and racing is conducted. Employers should prepare and implement their site plans and processes with worker engagement (including worker H&S representation) and participation to ensure that agreed measures are well communicated and embedded in practice. The Directive has been issued in consultation with the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association, the New Zealand Trainers’ Association, a Racing Club Advisory Group, and the NZ Racecourse Managers Association. Clubs, Jockeys, Trainers and staff are expected to work positively and cooperatively to ensure: • the effective implementation of these COVID-19 protocols, and • that the health and safety of workers and other people aren’t put at risk from changes that are made to work arrangements because of this pandemic. The protocols contain requirements that include essential materials that Clubs and Trainers may not currently have to hand. Assistance with the more substantive of these is provided in the Appendix below. Martin Burns GM – Welfare & Sustainability Appendix: Essential materials • NZTR is purchasing 12 non-touch thermometers which will be assigned 3 to each of: North; CD; Upper South & Lower South, to be carried by Stipendiary Stewards to bring to each race or trial meeting. If clubs or trainers wish to purchase their own thermometer, this link indicates a suitable product that is available for delivery. • NZTR will order signage which Stipendiary Stewards can bring to meetings, being: 3x “COVID-19 Entry Screening Point” and a two each of “Temporary Jockey Room” and “Temporary Trainers and Strappers Room”. • To ensure that a trainer or owner colours are not worn by more than one rider on a raceday, NZTR will supply 10 additional plain Colours and caps which Stipendiary Stewards can bring to meetings and provide if needed. • Whilst clubs and trainers are free to choose supplier and suitable product, if this is proving difficult, NZTR has identified a supplier (https://www.advanceclean.co.nz/) of disinfectant and hand sanitiser and other products. Clubs (or trainers) may open an account and contact Advance Clean to order and get the products shipped (Account opening form attached). It is recommended that orders are placed as soon as possible, as due to high demand, there may be some delays in fulfilling orders. ▪ Recommended products are (prices are ex-GST): • Germshield While expensive compared with standard disinfectant, this leaves a 24hour residue that organisms can’t survive on (product link). • Bio-Kleen A standard disinfectant (product link). • Hand and Surface Sanitiser (product link). Containers or hand pumps would have bought separately (e.g. product link). ▪ Contact for opening accounts and placing orders with Advance Clean: • For trainers, it will be important that surface disinfectants are used won’t rot or corrode reins and other gear. While there are likely other suitable products, below are two options: ▪ Shoof – Strike 400 (product link) ▪ F10 (product link)

That's so dumb a statement that you will ever see that your opinion is not even worthy of a reply. Do you ever leave your lounge?

Last week the Salvation Army dished out 5895 food parcels, a 346% rise on the week before lockdown. In the last month job seeker numbers have risen by 20% and now stands at 174,630 as at 17 April. Expect that to climb significantly.

As at yesterday 1451 cases and 16 deaths which works out as: A case fatality ratio of just over 1% 301 infections per million people 3 deaths per million That places us 77th place in the world for highest infection rate out of the 211 countries being tracked by data website Worldometer. We are slightly below the world average of 337 infections per million. As for deaths we are ranked alongside China, Australia, Lebanon, Qatar and a few others.

Not until there is sign-off by DIA, MPI, MBIE and Worksafe. There can be no return to training, trialing or racing until NZTR get sign-off from the government.

With Opie looking to head over with Emily to Australia who will be the likely number one rider for them in NZ?

No scheduled meetings at Ruakaka, Avondale, Rotorua and Trentham although Avondale is bracketed as an alternative venue with Counties.

You will note the 2000 Guineas will be at Te Rapa and the 1000 Guineas will be at Ellerslie

21 April 2020 Dear Racing Participants, Today we have released a proposed calendar for August through to early November to give owners, trainers and racing participants some certainty for the next six months. This follows the RITA announcement for consultation of the revised racing calendar for the balance of the 2019/20 racing year earlier today, which included the month of July for Thoroughbred Racing. We acknowledge that the situation in the national fight against COVID-19 is changing rapidly, and accordingly final decisions about the programme of racing for August-November will be made by early July. We are targeting a return to racing from 1 July as long as we can do this safely and in accordance with the strict Government and public health obligations. The proposed calendar (which can be found here) remains subject to final approval by the RITA Dates Committee, following the usual consultation processes*. We can’t confirm industry funding or stakes levels until we get more information from RITA on its 20/21 budget. We felt it was important that the industry get some draft racing dates so we can start getting horses ready for racing. These are extreme circumstances and it is a difficult time for everyone in racing. Every Club, every venue, every trainer and every owner has been impacted in some significant form. Key aspects of the proposed calendar through to early November: · Only 6 venues will be used in July · Venues chosen for the July racing return have been selected based on: · proximity to the horse population; and · commercially material cost savings for RITA by racing at tracks with broadcast transmission by low cost fibre rather than expensive satellite uplink · Revised Jumps racing programme only in the North Island · Revised Group & Listed programme · The number of meetings and venues used builds up as the calendar progresses into the new season · Dates have been allocated on the assumption travel, and attendance, will be limited due to a COVID-19 alert level restriction. The focus for the August through November period has been on allocation of meetings by Venue. We reiterate that every Club has a role to play in the future of NZ racing and allocation of licences to Clubs will be considered as part of the consultation phase for 20/21. 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. 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. We would like to acknowledge those Clubs which could be adversely impacted, including the Canterbury JC. While retaining their three-day NZ Cup Meeting it is proposed in the indicative calendar that the Guineas races could be transferred North for the 20/21 season only, depending on the NZTR Board’s assessment of the position in early July. Looking beyond the resume racing phase, the NZTR Board is now focussed on a piece of work where we will move to reshape the industry’s future, but this has only just begun. Thank you for your support of Thoroughbred Racing. Dr Alan Jackson Chairman Bernard Saundry Chief Executive * The RITA Dates Committee, who determine the Annual Dates Calendar, have a legislative requirement to consult with each of the recognised industry organisations on the proposed dates, allocation, and conditions and expect to consult on a draft 2020/21 calendar in mid-May.

calendar out for August - November. Will post when I get home.

July 3 Canterbury July 4 Te Rapa & Awapuni July 10 Wanganui July 11 Counties & Canterbury July 17 Southland July 18 Te Rapa & Manawatu July 24 Wanganui July 25 Counties & Canterbury

Didn't the Racing Board do so prior to RITA and now RITA is running the NZRB.

Will go back to my source to see what dates are allocated.

Evidently the six venues in July will be Counties, Te Rapa, Wanganui, Awapuni, Riccarton and Ascot Park from what I am told.

Draft calendar is out for May, June & July. Main points for thoroughbreds: Aim to resume racing on 3 July Amended draft calendar has 13 meetings at six venues Pre COVID-19 calendar had 20 meetings at 17 venues in the same period Racing restricted to four regions (Northern, Central, Canterbury, Southland) with travel of participants restricted to their regions

How does it compare with Taiwan?

The only knocking will be at the welfare department doors with unemployment predicted to reach double digits.

How so? It actually makes no difference to me personally where they are run. But I can certainly understand the rationale behind the shift to bring them North.

That may be so Chief but obviously both Guineas being run is of no importance to Mardi. He has advocated not running them.

It is relevant. Therefore you have no vested interest in either race being run and as a result no qualms about them not being run as you have mentioned a few times. Whether they run or not is of no importance to you , unlike those with rising 3yos who have been bred or purchased to race.

Well it's bloody obvious what the owners of the Karaka Millions horses want hence being purchased at Karaka. Out of interest how many horses do you currently race (ie before lockdown) and will you be racing any 3yos this season?

As previously pointed out overwhelmingly it is North Island based horses competing in both races. They will have their regular riders particularly the better horses and with travel restrictions placed on jockeys ie if they are not able to ride in both islands this will cause a real problem. Freda put it succinctly earlier in this thread. "And, if there is still restrictions on riders moving out of their district, they sure as hell aren't going to put Canterbury apprentices up." Freda is right, the standard of riding in the SI is average compared to the NI pool. If you had for example Opie or other top NI riders riding and winning on a 3yo you sure as hell are not wanting a SI apprentice up. Being practical, what do think that the actual owners of the horses would want or don't they count?

Think about it. Anyway your objection to the shift North this season is negated if horses can travel and it would certainly significantly reduce the number of horses having to travel who will be competing in those races on figures already presented. My reasoning on supporting the shift is not based on sentiment as opposed to a few others on here.

Correct. Still listed as black type on the pedigree page. RP