Chief Stipe Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Harness New Zealand turns back on Inter Dominion New Zealand have announced their plans to walk away from the Inter Dominion Picture: Ashlea Brennan By Adam Hamilton04:07pm • 28 October 2021 Comments THE future of harness racing’s iconic Inter Dominion looks very different with New Zealand turning its back on the event. This year’s Inter Dominion starts in NSW on November 27, but NZ was scheduled to host it next in 2023. In a coup for Australia, but disappointment for the Trans-Tasman theme of the event, Queensland will replace NZ as the 2023 host. Victoria will slot in between as next year’s host. Inter Dominion Event Committee Chairman Ken Spicer, who is also a former Harness Racing NZ board member, confirmed NZ’s exit, citing financial uncertainty and a lack of open-class horses in the country as the main reasons. “It is disappointing to withdraw from the time-honoured event after one rotation,” he said. “But with Racing Queensland expressing their interest to join the rotation at the first opportunity, it provided a reprieve to exchange positions for 2023. “We are indebted to the team in Queensland for their enthusiasm and support for such a smooth transition, which also provides an opportunity for HRNZ to re-join the hosting roster post-2025, should the circumstances improve.” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said it was a huge thrill for Queensland to return to hosting the Inter Dominion. “The Inter Dominion is one of the world’s great harness racing events and boasts a long and storied history with Queensland,” he said. “Having hosted our first Championship in 1972, the Inter Dominion’s standing as the industry’s pinnacle event has continued to solidify on both sides of the Tasman – and further abroad – and provides the perfect platform to showcase the code. “The legendary feats of Blacks A Fake remain synonymous with the Inter Dominion and continue to be a source of great pride for everyone involved in the Queensland harness racing industry.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 Geez used to be the other way round in your day @Gammalite!! So much for displaying some optimism that HRNZ can turn the current state of affairs around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 19 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Geez used to be the other way round in your day @Gammalite!! So much for displaying some optimism that HRNZ can turn the current state of affairs around! Hrnz, judging by the 2022 calendar outlined today, seem more interested in pouring buckets of money into the flagging Auckland/Cambridge scene . A half million dollar race for Cambridge in April . How exactly does that boost numbers at grassroots?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 35 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Geez used to be the other way round in your day @Gammalite!! So much for displaying some optimism that HRNZ can turn the current state of affairs around! Yes it seems looking at the fields at Auckland and Manawatu , the North Island is 'cactus' in the not so distant future. They already has NO trot Interdominion 2013 to 2017 , so guess the pacers are going, going , gooonnnne too. for Interdom glory. It's Special place for me , My earliest memories of life. went to NZ with dad as a kid 1968 with his Tassie mates and a horse called HALWES. for the 1968 Auckland Interdominion. Dad stayed on in Nz after for a while. They got paid more (2 x the winning purse) to Not start than to win the 1968 Interdominion by the Sydney bookies . Of course they took the money , he had a mortgage on the race if he started after smashing records in the heats. Won Miracle Mile in Sydney 2 weeks later. 'how bizarre' as they say in Nz. 15 years later Gammalite did start in the Grand Final at Auckland and win well from Popular Alm and Vinnie. great memories. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 22 minutes ago, Ludwig said: Hrnz, judging by the 2022 calendar outlined today, seem more interested in pouring buckets of money into the flagging Auckland/Cambridge scene . A half million dollar race for Cambridge in April . How exactly does that boost numbers at grassroots?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 23 minutes ago, Ludwig said: A half million dollar race for Cambridge in April . How exactly does that boost numbers at grassroots?? This approach has killed Thoroughbred Racing. I guess Bernie Saundry is consulting to HRNZ now. Of course all reliant on TAB NZ hitting budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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