Chief Stipe Posted Wednesday at 10:16 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:16 PM New Zealand to Launch National Thoroughbred Week in November New Zealand is set to open its stable doors this November with the launch of the inaugural National Thoroughbred Week—a five-day initiative aimed at giving the public an inside look at the care, passion, and people behind the country’s thoroughbred racing industry. Running from November 20–24, racing stables, stud farms, and aftercare facilities across New Zealand will welcome visitors for a hands-on experience—offering everything from observing morning trackwork to learning about equine welfare and life after racing. The initiative comes at a time of growing public interest in animal welfare and industry transparency. By offering direct access to the inner workings of the sport, organisers hope to foster trust and understanding, helping Kiwis form informed views about the industry. Aligned with Together for Racing International, the event takes inspiration from the UK’s successful National Racehorse Week and is tailored specifically for New Zealand’s racing landscape. The week coincides with our friends across the Tasman, who will also host National Thoroughbred Week, in an initiative designed to bring the public closer to the thoroughbred racing industry through real, hands-on experiences. Justine Sclater, Head of Welfare and Sustainability at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, has seen first-hand the concept successfully executed at New Zealand’s Open Farms week. “It was so uplifting and rewarding to have conversations with visitors and see them leave with an insight into the dedicated care our thoroughbreds receive,” Sclater said. “I'd really like to encourage anyone with the capacity to take part in National Thoroughbred Week to support the concept and we're here to make sure the process is as easy and stress free as possible.” Sclater highlights the event’s potential to unite the racing community on a national and Trans-Tasman scale. “National Thoroughbred Week is about unity. This is an opportunity for the entire industry across two countries - trainers, breeders, owners, aftercare facilities, and community groups - to come together and showcase the true heart of racing. “From trainers to breeding operations, everyone has a role to play. Whether it’s a local country stable or a major stud farm, we want every part of the industry involved. This is about full participation, and we’re here to bring it all together.” Vicky Leonard, the driving force behind the initiative, believes it is a critical evolution for the next step in improving the industry’s perception. Leonard heads Kick Up, which provides a balanced view to false claims that have been made about horseracing. “Kick Up has been focused on tackling perception challenges online and through education, but change marketing also needs real-world action,” Leonard said. “National Thoroughbred Week is the next step - opening stable doors, creating hands-on moments, and showing people the reality of racing, up close and personal. “Trust is built through experience and when an industry isn’t open people believe it has something to hide. We’re giving people a direct and special experience.” More information can be found at thoroughbredweek.co.nz Corporate Communications New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Contact: Catlyn Calder +64 27 252 2803 nztrcommunications@nztr.co.nz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Wednesday at 10:17 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 10:17 PM Although the 20th to the 24th isn't exactly a full week - Marketers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 02:07 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:07 AM Yawn!! Stables at studs been doing it for years without giving it a branding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 02:08 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:08 AM "local country stable" NZTR Circus been trying to get rid of this type of stable 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 02:09 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:09 AM “Trust is built through experience and when an industry isn’t open people believe it has something to hide. No such thing as a lack of openness, more than likely a lack of interest is more appropriate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 02:10 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:10 AM The week coincides with our friends across the Tasman. We really should just get an Australian governing body to run our sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 02:11 AM Share Posted Thursday at 02:11 AM “It was so uplifting and rewarding to have conversations with visitors and see them leave with an insight into the dedicated care our thoroughbreds receive, - Corporate Fluff!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted Thursday at 10:14 AM Share Posted Thursday at 10:14 AM None of this nonsense is necessary or as necessary as fixing the calendar & programming. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted Thursday at 05:37 PM Share Posted Thursday at 05:37 PM 7 hours ago, Huey said: None of this nonsense is necessary or as necessary as fixing the calendar & programming. Quite so. I do think its a good concept but the implementation...? How does it get communicated to the wider, largely uninterested public? Loveracing ads? Fb pieces? Trackside? All preaching to the converted. I will be watching with interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 05:48 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 05:48 PM 5 minutes ago, Freda said: Quite so. I do think its a good concept but the implementation...? How does it get communicated to the wider, largely uninterested public? Loveracing ads? Fb pieces? Trackside? All preaching to the converted. I will be watching with interest. Yes I think it could be a good initiative to publicise a part of the business that many don't see and which shows the dedication and hard work of participants. Security would worry me though. There'd have to be some protocols put in place to make sure that nefarious types didn't get too close. Also some adjustment to working hours. I don't see Ma and Pa Kettle and the young'uns getting up at 3:30am to watch trackwork or feeding out. The programming and handicapping fixing must be a high priority...surely? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted Thursday at 05:49 PM Share Posted Thursday at 05:49 PM 1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said: Yes I think it could be a good initiative to publicise a part of the business that many don't see and which shows the dedication and hard work of participants. Security would worry me though. There'd have to be some protocols put in place to make sure that nefarious types didn't get too close. Also some adjustment to working hours. I don't see Ma and Pa Kettle and the young'uns getting up at 3:30am to watch trackwork or feeding out. The programming and handicapping fixing must be a high priority...surely? Absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Thursday at 05:53 PM Share Posted Thursday at 05:53 PM 3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: The programming and handicapping fixing must be a high priority...surely? Where did you get that idea? Neither are mentioned in the current SoI, aside from programming in the business as usual list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 06:35 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 06:35 PM 40 minutes ago, curious said: Where did you get that idea? Neither are mentioned in the current SoI, aside from programming in the business as usual list. Are you being facetious? I know it isn't in the SOI but it should be...surely? Would that be a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Thursday at 07:59 PM Share Posted Thursday at 07:59 PM 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Are you being facetious? I know it isn't in the SOI but it should be...surely? Would that be a good idea? Yes, yes and yes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 08:03 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 08:03 PM 3 minutes ago, curious said: Yes, yes and yes! Phew we are on the same page. 😉 😜 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted Thursday at 08:08 PM Share Posted Thursday at 08:08 PM 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Phew we are on the same page. 😉 😜 Yet, increasing revenue is in there, and increasing average field size and starter numbers are KPIs towards that end. How they can not realise that programming and handicapping are key to that is beyond me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted Thursday at 08:18 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 08:18 PM 8 minutes ago, curious said: Yet, increasing revenue is in there, and increasing average field size and starter numbers are KPIs towards that end. How they can not realise that programming and handicapping are key to that is beyond me. No no didn't you realise that substantially increasing Stakes will help achieve all those KPI's? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted Thursday at 10:12 PM Share Posted Thursday at 10:12 PM 2 hours ago, curious said: Yet, increasing revenue is in there, and increasing average field size and starter numbers are KPIs towards that end. How they can not realise that programming and handicapping are key to that is beyond me. It's beyond them too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted yesterday at 02:22 AM Share Posted yesterday at 02:22 AM This idea is totally against former preachings with signs on the gate, visitor register, no one including owners who may have foaled and nurtured the horse going anywhere near the animal. We don't want horses trained at country tracks but, let's go and visit a stable set up that trains on such a track. Maybe lay people aren't supposed to see that some horses spend almost 24/7 in a box and don't see a paddock while in work. I find a lot of the ideas that come from NZTR are conflicting and depend on this week's narrative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted yesterday at 05:04 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:04 AM 2 hours ago, Special Agent said: This idea is totally against former preachings with signs on the gate, visitor register, no one including owners I was having a chat with a good mate recently, he has been a owner for 40+ years and he was reflecting on how the old days of popping out to the stable with a bag of carrots were well over! Serious security in place now, boarding on unfriendly! Re the costs, all the early horses were owned with one or two other mates! Down to 5% shares now. Like many older owners, slowly winding it all down! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 05:17 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 05:17 AM 6 minutes ago, Murray Fish said: I was having a chat with a good mate recently, he has been a owner for 40+ years and he was reflecting on how the old days of popping out to the stable with a bag of carrots were well over! Serious security in place now, boarding on unfriendly! Re the costs, all the early horses were owned with one or two other mates! Down to 5% shares now. Like many older owners, slowly winding it all down! Well part of that problem is the prohibited drug rules are not in line with the testing being able to detect environmental contamination. With zero level tolerance environmental contamination can disqualify a horse for a substance that was picked up from the environment that it was temporarily stabled in and not be at a level that affects performance. I've spoke to racing code management and the RIB about this and they all say "yeah we recognise there is a problem but..." They don't do anything about it. Then of course there are those on social media who see a positive and don't accept that it could be environmental contamination issue and NOT deliberate administration. Not to mention again that the levels detected are very very small. Akin to a drop of blood in an Olympic swimming pool. Remember the P positive at New Plymouth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 05:21 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 05:21 AM I had the pleasure of being invited to a major stable open day recently. We were given full access to all the barns of some very valuable horses. We were told that we were NOT to touch the horses mouths with our hands. I understand why but I do remember the days I turned up to the stable with a carrot or a peppermint Oddfellow. Rest assured though those barns had full CCTV recording what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted yesterday at 05:49 AM Share Posted yesterday at 05:49 AM 30 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: With zero level tolerance environmental 'that stable, a large one', having had to answer problems like that previously, now a v strict! as needed so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted yesterday at 08:19 AM Author Share Posted yesterday at 08:19 AM 2 hours ago, Murray Fish said: 'that stable, a large one', having had to answer problems like that previously, now a v strict! as needed so! ...and owners wonder why training fees are so high at those stables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.