KEY POINTS:
Free entry for the majority of New Zealand thoroughbred races begins today.
Previously owners paid a fee to nominate a horse for a race and then made another payment if the horse remained in the field at withdrawal time, which used to be known as an acceptance fee.
The free entry, which applies to all races except group and stakes events, is projected to save owners about $3 million a year.
There will be a cost, however, if a horse is withdrawn from a race.
If the horse is withdrawn before acceptance time there will be a non-acceptance fee of $40.
If a horse is scratched after the field has been declared, then one of two charges will apply, depending on the stake of the race.
If the race carries a stake of up to $1500, there will be a scratching fee of $125. If the stake is more than $1500, the scratching fee is $250.
The cost of scratching may be higher in some cases than the entry payments would have been, but New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) said the emphasis was on racing forfree.
"The over-riding principle of any free racing model is that, unlike now, if the horse races it will not cost the owners a cent to race, other than the jockey's riding fee."
The introduction of free entry would help balance the cost to owners in comparison with Australia, NZTR said.
"New Zealand owners have paid on average 14 per cent of stakes in nomination and acceptance fees.
"This is a staggeringly high figure and compares very unfavourably with the three eastern states of Australia where owners contribute between 3 and 6 per cent."
- NZPA
