Racing: Gallops clubs vote to establish council

Thoroughbred Racing Clubs voted yesterday, at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's annual general meeting in Wellington, in favour of authorising NZTR to establish a racing council with the New Zealand Racing Board.

A report published jointly by NZTR and the NZRB on 23 November 2009 - One Racing: Industry Taskforce Report - identified that combining the existing four industry administration bodies (NZRB, NZTR, Harness Racing New Zealand and Greyhound Racing New Zealand) into one new entity will facilitate savings of more than $11 million a year.

This would result in a stronger and financially healthier racing industry (in the most recent study the racing industry provided $1.4 billion in economic activity to New Zealand each year - 1.3 per cent of GDP).

The One Racing report recommended that a racing council be set up to build a new structure for the racing industry including the appointment of directors to a new governing body.

The primary desired outcomes for the racing industry from the adoption of the report, in addition to a more robust financial position, are more efficiency in terms of utilisation of industry resources and more effectiveness in providing the leadership to assure industry sustainability and success.

Further progress will now depend upon the agreement of the other two codes, Harness Racing New Zealand and Greyhound Racing New Zealand.

Guy Sargent, chairman of NZTR, stated after yesterday's general meeting: "This decision by the thoroughbred racing clubs marks a real turning point for our industry; the opportunity to start the process of adopting the recommendations of the One Racing report.

"NZTR initiated this process with a report, presented at our last AGM, which recommended 'the creation of a new and potentially quite different organisation' comprising the three codes and the Racing Board, subject to the agreement of all parties. That was supported then by our clubs and today they took another important step on the road to improving our industry.

"Ultimately we are looking at a more self-sufficient and productive industry, and ensuring the financial future of our clubs."

- NZPA