curious

I imagine there's a lot of tracks with access to fibre that haven't installed it, probably because it's hard to justify for a few meetings a year but I don't recall any requests to do so. Wonder if the likes of Foxton will have to install it for trial meetings?

But what is stopping them sending the feeds by satellite all of a sudden?

I am a bit puzzled as to why tracks equipped with fibre are the only ones to operate. Seems highly unlikely now that there would be any Covid related rationale for that by July.

Foxton has fibre at the gate!

Oh sorry. I missed that. I assume Manawatu = Awapuni?

2 meetings in the CD 6 days apart? Then none for two weeks?

Yes. The RB sets the dates in consultation with the codes.

Bigger question is why? Covid restrictions won't stop it at level 1 or 2?

It says it's for consultation with the industry. I would have thought that might include owners. 21 April 2020 The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) has today issued a revised DRAFT 19/20 racing calendar for consultation with the New Zealand racing industry. The resumption of racing is subject to meeting appropriate COVID-19 Alert Level requirements. The revised calendar proposes the initial resumption of greyhound racing on 11 May, harness racing on 29 May and thoroughbred racing beginning 3 July and includes a significant reduction in the number of racing venues from 36 to 12 in order to minimise travel and centralise racing as close as possible to the participants and animals. All meetings will be closed to the public. 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. Dean McKenzie, Executive Chair of RITA said the draft calendar provided a starting point for a conversation within the racing industry on a schedule of race meetings that reflected the impact of COVID-19. “The draft calendar reflects the industry’s commitment to ensure any resumption of racing includes measures to restrict travel, minimise interactions and keep all participants safe. “RITA is actively working with a number of Government organisations to ensure the industry’s protocols and rules meet Alert Level 2 and 3 restrictions prior to the resumption of any racing. These discussions have benefited from the response prior to moving to Alert Level 4 and from Australia, where racing has continued under strict restrictions. “We recognise that the draft calendar, which was developed with the racing codes, presents a very different pattern of racing for the last few months of the year than was originally proposed. But if we are to resume racing this season, we must give ourselves every chance of doing that safely and minimise the threat of COVID-19.” The draft calendar covers the period 11 May to 31 July 2020 and consultation closes on 28 April, with a final calendar issued on 4 May. Draft 19/20 Racing Calendar Proposed Amendments - Summary Greyhound Racing Return to racing as soon as practical with draft start in early May, subject to meeting relevant COVID-19 protocols For the balance of the season, propose to run 9.25 meetings a week at six venues Pre COVID-19 calendar had nine meetings a week at seven venues Full meetings scheduled for Invercargill and Dunedin to be transferred to Christchurch to be closer to racing population and support intent to restrict travel Three races to be scheduled for Southern trained dogs to enable dual meetings with Invercargill harness Harness Racing Aims to resume racing on 29 May, subject to meeting relevant COVID-19 protocols Amended draft calendar has 37 meetings at four venues Pre COVID-19 calendar had 36 meetings at 10 venues in the same period Racing restricted to three regions (North, Canterbury, Southland) with travel of participants restricted to their regions Thoroughbred Racing 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

Well that makes sense but where is the calendar?

Some are and I'm enjoying the conversations with them. Quite exciting. The kiwi entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and I think the economy will bounce back faster than many may think.

There doesn't appear to be any mention of a funding issue in either Bernard's blog or Mary's release. Anyway, given that NZTR revenue has likely fallen below the $80m revenue cap, presumably they will have been able to take advantage of the government small and medium business loan guarantee to ensure funding in the interim.

Hold the phone Josephine! Don't start plating them up in the morning. Despite Bernard's comment in the headpost, Mary Burgess's missive of yesterday says. While today’s announcement is promising it is not a confirmation that we will automatically return to racing. The industry’s protocols must first meet the requirements of several government departments – DIA, MPI, MBIE and Worksafe – before permission is granted to allow the industry to return to the track. https://loveracing.nz/News/30170/CautiousoptimismfollowingPMsannouncement.aspx Left hand, right hand comes to mind. So, those of us that were preparing to recommence training next week probably should just go have a wee lie down? Given they've had at least 4 weeks to prepare these protocols and get them approved with not a lot else to do, how come they are still waiting approval from 4 government departments? And the tone of the missive is not one of confidence as I read it.

It's not really a figure that I am that interested in, but do you mean confirmed cases per head of population? If so I'm one that believes we have one of the lowest. Don't we?

Not sure how you can excuse people from believing crap. Especially, the ones that think that taking racefields from punters is some kind of new money rather than another way of collecting the sme money from the same losing punters. Sad really that they could be that thick. They probably should stick to their knitting and leave the wagering stuff to someone who knows what they are doing.

How could he have been so stupid?

Cripes, that's horrendous. How come so bad?

Sounds like it is.

We've all heard those stories. If they'd put the blinkers on in the Cup last start like they did today, it would have killed them. If he'd stayed on the rail and waited till they all came off the fence instead of going round them 5 wide, it would've won by lengths. The above aren't facts though some treat them as such. They are unproven hypotheses that can never be tested.

If you have to ask that, I give up.

Does it matter in the overall scheme of things? I think not and I don't really care. I'm over the griping and complaining about what some international media are calling a masterclass in management of this virus and it seems 85% of New Zealanders agree. Let's just do this. I might add, I've never voted Labour and probably never will.

Yes. I'm not interested in going back and complaining about the decisions already made even if they were made belatedly. There is no doubt a plethora of opportunities emerging. Quite exciting.

So be it. We all will make our decisions about those sort of things, our personal lives and business interests, but how NZ continues to respond to managing the corona threat is a step away from that. Get with the programme. https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-coronavirus-elimination-strategy-has-united-a-nation-can-that-unity-outlast-lockdown-135040

At level 2, riders and other staff will be able to travel. If we are not at level 2 or better by November, then I think we will have much greater things to worry about than a couple of guineas races.

So what is the rationale as you understand it? That the races will be held nearer where more of the likely runners are trained? I get that but what else?