Gender Neutrality is a hard concept for some: NZTR Circular No. 31

[Chief Stipe]

17 June 2025 NZTR CIRCULAR 2024/25 – No. 31

TO EACH TOTALISATOR CLUB AND SECTOR ORGANISATION

REVISION TO THE RULES OF RACING– GENDER NEUTRALITY

The Rules have been revised to ensure they reflect a more modern and inclusive approach.

In particular, gender-specific language has been updated to gender-neutral terminology throughout. This change has been made to align with contemporary standards of equality and inclusivity, ensuring the document is appropriate and respectful for all individuals, regardless of gender.

[Chief Stipe]

I realise it is a difficult concept for some, especially grumpy old men types, but the rules were originally written very much in the male gender.

Good to see with all the successful and prominent female licensees in racing that the rules are now gender neutral.

[Huey]

12 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I realise it is a difficult concept for some, especially grumpy old men types, but the rules were originally written very much in the male gender.

Good to see with all the successful and prominent female licensees in racing that the rules are now gender neutral.

I haven't heard a single female in the industry comment about it until now, so once again a non issue for the absolutely hopeless NZTR .

Did not thing there could be a worse CEO than BS but it looks like they might have found one.

Just another weak attempt at appearing relevant.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Huey said:

I haven't heard a single female in the industry comment about it until now, so once again a non issue for the absolutely hopeless NZTR .

Did not thing there could be a worse CEO than BS but it looks like they might have found one.

Just another weak attempt at appearing relevant.

I don't consider it weak at all I just wonder why it took so long.

At least now when a female licensee is charged the relevant rule won't refer to horsemen.

[Huey]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I don't consider it weak at all I just wonder why it took so long.

At least now when a female licensee is charged the relevant rule won't refer to horsemen.

Oh no imagine that , the world would end ! It's only gone on for the last 100 years, no more abandonments now we have the gender specific dialogue sorted out - hooray! 

[Murray Fish]

7 hours ago, Huey said:

I haven't heard a single female in the industry comment about it

how many have you spoken to?

I had a quick look through the SIZE & SCOPE OF THE NZ RACING INDUSTRY, lots of stats and photos of woman! but not a lot around gender...

[Huey]

23 hours ago, Murray Fish said:

how many have you spoken to?

I had a quick look through the SIZE & SCOPE OF THE NZ RACING INDUSTRY, lots of stats and photos of woman! but not a lot around gender...

Really you must turn the sound up on your TV 

[Chief Stipe]

31 minutes ago, Huey said:

Really you must turn the sound up on your TV 

FFS @Huey it was just a circular notifying that the non-inclusive language had been removed.  For example horseman has probably been changed to horseperson or licensed trainer etc.  From a legal perspective it makes sense.

No big deal.  But I guess it is something else for the disenfranchised  GOM's to moan about online.

[Freda]

I'm pretty sure there was a time when 'man' in a sentence meant 'being of humankind'  not specifically a male person.

I do recall my English teacher referring to something like that, explaining that the practice simply saved time instead of writing he/she, his/hers, all the time.  'Woman' was 'understood' was the way she put it.

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, Freda said:

Woman' was 'understood' was the way she put it.

Yes well it takes another woman to understand a woman.

[Extra Dollars]

On 6/17/2025 at 9:19 PM, Chief Stipe said:

17 June 2025 NZTR CIRCULAR 2024/25 – No. 31

TO EACH TOTALISATOR CLUB AND SECTOR ORGANISATION

REVISION TO THE RULES OF RACING– GENDER NEUTRALITY

The Rules have been revised to ensure they reflect a more modern and inclusive approach.

In particular, gender-specific language has been updated to gender-neutral terminology throughout. This change has been made to align with contemporary standards of equality and inclusivity, ensuring the document is appropriate and respectful for all individuals, regardless of gender.

 

[Chief Stipe]

On 18/06/2025 at 4:03 PM, Huey said:

Oh no imagine that , the world would end ! It's only gone on for the last 100 years, no more abandonments now we have the gender specific dialogue sorted out - hooray! 

So you'd be quite happy being referred to as a "horsewoman"?

[Special Agent]

It's right up there with the real problems in life, like the reported harness jockey incident at Alexandra Park.

[Chief Stipe]

28 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

It's right up there with the real problems in life, like the reported harness jockey incident at Alexandra Park.

Harness have Drivers not Jockeys.  What incident are you referring to?

[Chief Stipe]

As for making the rules gender neutral you are right that it isn't a big deal however they now align with other legislation and any ambiguity (there was some) has been removed.

At the end of the day the change wasn't trumpeted on Trackside or a major media release but was circulated in an industry official notice to licensee's.   Some have chosen to weaponise it with statements like "haven't NZTR and suits got anything better to do".

The point I'd make is well done NZTR for doing it and now please start remove other ambiguities and get some consistency between the codes on important things like licensee penalties and horse drug testing.

[Special Agent]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

please start remove other ambiguities and get some consistency between the codes on important things like licensee penalties and horse drug testing.

And please remove double standards from every facet of the racing industry.

[Special Agent]

On 6/19/2025 at 6:01 PM, Chief Stipe said:

Yes well it takes another woman to understand a woman.

That might be why so many women are training to be stipes.

[Special Agent]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Harness have Drivers not Jockeys.  What incident are you referring to?

Was it Checkpoint reporting on the driver being dragged?

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

And please remove double standards from every facet of the racing industry.

Like what for example?

[Special Agent]

4 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Like what for example?

I'd be here all day.  There are quite a number.  Peruse any page of the rule book and you'll see what I mean.

In my opinion, which you don't share, there is no debate over the whip rules not being adhered to.  Horses are being flanked continually but, these flaunts of the rules are ignored.  Do you think authorities are worried there will be too many inexperienced and unfashionable jockeys left available on race day if all offenders are dealt with?

[Chief Stipe]

14 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

In my opinion, which you don't share, there is no debate over the whip rules not being adhered to.  Horses are being flanked continually but, these flaunts of the rules are ignored.  Do you think authorities are worried there will be too many inexperienced and unfashionable jockeys left available on race day if all offenders are dealt with?

Where have I stated that in my opinion the whip rules are being adhered to?  Or for that matter that they are being policed correctly?  I haven't.

However my opinion is that the rules as they are now are difficult to enforce.  Which leads to a perception of inconsistency.  

What I do take issue with is individuals with a bee in their bonnet sitting at home riding their Lazy-Boy and trawling through replays looking for rule breakers.  Then to prove their point selectively taking snapshots of pictures out of context and posting them online.

Not only do we have below average armchair Jockeys bashing real Jockeys but they are bashing the sport of racing.  "Oh but if they didn't do it we wouldn't have any pictures to take".

Send the pictures to the Stipes but don't think you are taking the moral high ground by posting them online to feed the anti-racing mob.

Sure debate the issues - go hard at it.

[Chief Stipe]

26 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

I'd be here all day.  There are quite a number.  Peruse any page of the rule book and you'll see what I mean.

What the rule book has "double standards"?  Are you sure you don't mean ambiguity and inconsistency?

[Special Agent]

5 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

my opinion is that the rules as they are now are difficult to enforce.

Are they?  How does the enforcement of the whip rule differ from any other?

[Special Agent]

7 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

What the rule book has "double standards"?  Are you sure you don't mean ambiguity and inconsistency?

You seem to be like some of the jockeys legged up on raceday in that you can't follow instructions.

Look at the rules as displayed and have a look at how, how often and to whom they are applied in reality.

[curious]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

However my opinion is that the rules as they are now are difficult to enforce.  Which leads to a perception of inconsistency.  

What do you suggest be done about it @Chief Stipe ? We all know that the stipes don't, won't or can't capture every infraction that occurs. We can hardly throw out the rules that aren't enforced at every instance of a breach can we?