Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 You have have to wonder about the consistency of the thinking and planning that went into this process for such a back flip to take place but nice to see Forbury and Blenheim reinstated. Harness racing in the CD will be given a reprieve in today’s RITA announcement By Barry Lichter • 3 July 2020 Harness racing in the Central Districts will be thrown a lifeline with an announcement expected later today that the Manawatu Trotting Club has been granted 10 meetings for the new season. Detailed submissions from the clubs and other supporters have led to a change of mind by the Racing Industry Transition Agency which originally axed all meetings south of Cambridge. Palmerston North will host six full race meetings in 2020-21 with another four mini meetings, held in conjunction with the greyhounds. The track will host three Tuesday-Thursday meetings on November 17 and 19, December 8 and 10 and March 30 and April 1. The Tuesday dual code meetings will be trialled to assess whether they will work and be the platform for more widespread use in the future. Also reinstated to the calendar will be the popular holiday picnic meetings at Tauherenikau, four races dual code with the gallops on January 2, and Otaki gets four races two days later. RITA plans to release all the confirmed dates for 2020-21 today. Other changes telegraphed include: * Forbury Park in Dunedin, denied any dates in the draft calendar, gets 10 meetings back. * Timaru, another track given no meetings initially, will race four times. * The two-day Blenheim meeting is back in January * Roxburgh’s annual January meeting is reinstated * Gore gets one meeting to be raced on the grass on December 27. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Great news. Maybe they read this forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 37 minutes ago, Noodlum said: Great news. Maybe they read this forum. If HRNZ was interested in making Harness Great Again, they would need to be reading BOAY! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Southland seems to be the most progressive place in the country so why such backward ideas coming from head office?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 C D still got those tuesday thursday dates so nought has changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 HRNZ Statement on Dates Calendar HRNZ Statement on Dates Calendar 3 July 2020 , Media Release Central Districts, Timaru and Forbury Thrown Harness Racing Lifeline Three harness racing clubs, Manawatu, Timaru and Forbury, have been given a lifeline for the 2020-21 season. When Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) announced their proposed new season programme recently, all three clubs had been dropped from the schedule. However, following submissions from the clubs and amendments from HRNZ, RITA (Racing Industry Transition Agency) has decided to give the Forbury club 10 dates, Manawatu six and Timaru three. Phil Holden, Acting CEO for HRNZ, said that the board has been taken by surprise by RITA’s announcement, as it included major changes to the final programme that HRNZ submitted. “The board was impressed by the depth and quality of the submissions made by the clubs and the willingness of clubs, especially those in the Central Districts, led by Manawatu HRC, to engage positively and attempt to put forward a collaborative and revitalised approach”. “However, we believe our initial thoughts on Forbury Park and Timaru were correct and in our final submissions back to RITA we did not include them in next season’s programmes,” he said. From the proposed new season calendar released to the industry on 15 May, Invercargill will lose five meetings and Addington three to accommodate Forbury, and Addington will lose a further three to Timaru. The new calendar will race at 25 venues in the 2020-21 season, down from 31 in the current year, with the number of meetings dropping from 260 (originally programmed for this season) to 257. The venues missing from last season are Wyndham, Hawera, Taranaki, Stratford, Waimate and Geraldine. HRNZ’s proposed programme was aimed at improving wagering income by racing more often at the higher performing venues, better aligning meetings with the regional horse population and helping reduce servicing costs with the fewer number of venues. This new programme remains a work in progress and HRNZ is committed to working alongside RITA as this new era unfolds. “Every club will be under close scrutiny throughout the 2020-21 season and their performances will influence the following year’s programme. This new calendar will also give clubs time in which to develop their own regional development plans as requested by RITA,” he said. A summary of the changes in the programme confirmed by RITA include: Manawatu Harness Racing Club/Central Districts Racing Clubs To add six, 8-race programmes, plus four four-race dual code twilight meetings held in conjunction with the Palmerston North Greyhound Racing Club. HRNZ also supports having a 4-race programme as a dual code meeting with the Wairarapa RC at Tauherenikau and the Kapiti Coast HRC having a 4-race programme as a dual code meeting with the Otaki-Maori RC at Otaki. These dates will form part of an initial single season review package of meetings and trials for the Central Districts/Taranaki Clubs which will be rigorously reviewed. Forbury Park Forbury will hold 10 meetings, nine at Forbury and one at Wingatui. Timaru Harness Racing Club Timaru will hold three daylight meetings. Southland Harness Racing Clubs Wyndham – There will be no racing at the Wyndham Racecourse, with the meetings being reallocated. The club retains its summer meeting on 6 January at Cromwell. Gore - Gore Harness Racing Club will race on December 27th on the grass at Gore. All other dates are reallocated. Roxburgh - Roxburgh TC will retain its meeting at the Roxburgh Racecourse on January 4. Westport and Reefton Trotting Clubs Westport TC (12 March twilight) and Reefton TC (14 March day) will retain their meetings. Nelson and Marlborough Harness Racing Clubs Marlborough HRC will retain its summer meetings on the 15 January twilight and 17 January day meetings while the June Winter dates for the Nelson HRC have not been reinstated but the summer dates of January 8 and 10 will continue. “The board was impressed by the depth and quality of the submissions made by the clubs and the willingness of clubs, especially those in the Central Districts, led by Manawatu HRC, to engage positively and attempt to put forward a collaborative and revitalised approach”. “However, we believe our initial thoughts on Forbury Park and Timaru were correct and in our final submissions back to RITA we did not include them in next season’s programmes,” he said. From the proposed new season calendar released to the industry on 15 May, Invercargill will lose five meetings and Addington three to accommodate Forbury, and Addington will lose a further three to Timaru. The new calendar will race at 25 venues in the 2020-21 season, down from 31 in the current year, with the number of meetings dropping from 260 (originally programmed for this season) to 257. The venues missing from last season are Wyndham, Hawera, Taranaki, Stratford, Waimate and Geraldine. HRNZ’s proposed programme was aimed at improving wagering income by racing more often at the higher performing venues, better aligning meetings with the regional horse population and helping reduce servicing costs with the fewer number of venues. This new programme remains a work in progress and HRNZ is committed to working alongside RITA as this new era unfolds. “Every club will be under close scrutiny throughout the 2020-21 season and their performances will influence the following year’s programme. This new calendar will also give clubs time in which to develop their own regional development plans as requested by RITA,” he said. A summary of the changes in the programme confirmed by RITA include: Manawatu Harness Racing Club/Central Districts Racing Clubs To add six, 8-race programmes, plus four four-race dual code twilight meetings held in conjunction with the Palmerston North Greyhound Racing Club. HRNZ also supports having a 4-race programme as a dual code meeting with the Wairarapa RC at Tauherenikau and the Kapiti Coast HRC having a 4-race programme as a dual code meeting with the Otaki-Maori RC at Otaki. These dates will form part of an initial single season review package of meetings and trials for the Central Districts/Taranaki Clubs which will be rigorously reviewed. Forbury Park Forbury will hold 10 meetings, nine at Forbury and one at Wingatui. Timaru Harness Racing Club Timaru will hold three daylight meetings. Southland Harness Racing Clubs Wyndham – There will be no racing at the Wyndham Racecourse, with the meetings being reallocated. The club retains its summer meeting on 6 January at Cromwell. Gore - Gore Harness Racing Club will race on December 27th on the grass at Gore. All other dates are reallocated. Roxburgh - Roxburgh TC will retain its meeting at the Roxburgh Racecourse on January 4. Westport and Reefton Trotting Clubs Westport TC (12 March twilight) and Reefton TC (14 March day) will retain their meetings. Nelson and Marlborough Harness Racing Clubs Marlborough HRC will retain its summer meetings on the 15 January twilight and 17 January day meetings while the June Winter dates for the Nelson HRC have not been reinstated but the summer dates of January 8 and 10 will continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Just now, Happy Sunrise said: Timaru Harness Racing Club Timaru will hold three daylight meetings. Shit, that is lucky as there are no lights at Timaru. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 Just now, Happy Sunrise said: Phil Holden, Acting CEO for HRNZ, said that the board has been taken by surprise by RITA’s announcement, as it included major changes to the final programme that HRNZ submitted. This should scare racing people. Just shows the lack of understanding between RITA and HRNZ. If Holden was surprised, it would seem he is out of the loop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 10 minutes ago, Happy Sunrise said: Shit, that is lucky as there are no lights at Timaru. Forbury have lights but have got the odd day meeting as well,seems they got a lot of those winter meetings,that will get the crowds flocking out to the course lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 14 minutes ago, Happy Sunrise said: Shit, that is lucky as there are no lights at Timaru. I'm waiting for the days they schedule twilight meetings in the dead of winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 2 minutes ago, mikeynz said: I'm waiting for the days they schedule twilight meetings in the dead of winter. The reinstatement of Timaru makes little sense so they might just do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 It seems that Wyndham and Gore are effectively wiped yet Riverton which was a 1 day club now have 3 or 4 meetings,what's going on here,some serious issues in the grey department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 When you look at the fields and results from Southland a lot of horses and a lot of winners from Gore area. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 1 minute ago, mikeynz said: It seems that Wyndham and Gore are effectively wiped yet Riverton which was a 1 day club now have 3 or 4 meetings,what's going on here,some serious issues in the grey department. I think RITA have no idea. I think HRNZ have no power with RITA. While I didn't want to see racing clubs wiped off the map like Forbury, if they genuinely thought it was needed to save the industry then so be it. But, this backflip is quite staggering in its proportions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 2 minutes ago, mikeynz said: When you look at the fields and results from Southland a lot of horses and a lot of winners from Gore area. Soutlhanders must be wondering what has hit them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 From HRNZ: Given this regional focus and approach, the Timaru Harness Racing Club simply becomes difficult to support regionally from a location, cost, and horse population perspective. HRNZ recognises that this is a difficult call but the geography of the Timaru Harness Club, in this situation regrettably is one that cannot be ignored. Well, it can be ignored, just ask RITA lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I bet Addinton will be pissed odff losing some meetings to accommodate others ,will they protest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 The present government takes some beating for running off in different directions but this lot take the cake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 6 minutes ago, mikeynz said: The present government takes some beating for running off in different directions but this lot take the cake. The present government have an array of things to worry about. This lot can even get on the same page over racetracks. I really hope people see how shambolic this back flip is and what it shows about the leadership of the industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Even some of the dates for Manawatu are the same old tuesday thursday ,what's wrong with Wednesday friday ,forbury could have thursday or friday and sunday once a month or something similar there is no consistency in the setup for palmy 2 2 day meets before xmas and nothing again till easter.im done here 4 now ,smartphones starting to piss me off too hard to focus all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 So HRNZ wanted Timaru and forbury gone and did not support them getting any dates. Interesting that Hrnz had chosen Oamaru ahead of Timaru and Forbury. One press release says timaru has 4 dates and the other says 3? Don't know why. Timaru does still have the gallops,so makes sense to see them get some harness dates. I think the proposed changes are for the best,so good to see the changes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 5 minutes ago, the galah said: I think the proposed changes are for the best Why is that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Happy Sunrise said: Why is that? I should have said actual changes,not proposed,as we now know for sure. Personally i think they needed to retain harness racing in the regions. As to which courses,for example keeping Timaru ahead of geraldine and waimate makes perfect sense to me given timaru was to remain open for the gallops,whereas geraldine and waimate were twice and once a year clubs with no local gallops.And of course the populations of the cities should be a factor in my opinion,for example dunedin. Edited July 3, 2020 by the galah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 If you read the fine print in relation to Avondale RC you might be able to figure out why Forbury got dates back Mikie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise Posted July 3, 2020 Author Share Posted July 3, 2020 17 minutes ago, Mikie said: If you read the fine print in relation to Avondale RC you might be able to figure out why Forbury got dates back Mikie Just tell me, my head hurts from all the reading from HRNZ and RITA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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