Racing: Godber to return for integrity job

Mike Godber. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Addington chief Mike Godber has been appointed operations manager for the racing industry's new integrity unit.

Godber will take up the job with the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU) on January 17.

The RIU brings together the integrity functions of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing into a single independent organisation, making New Zealand one of the few jurisdictions in the world to have a tri-code integrity unit. It will come into effect on February 1.

Godber will have strategic oversight of the integrity function and will initially be responsible for setting up and developing the unit, the New Zealand Racing Board said. He will also be the key liaison person with the racing codes and the Judicial Control Authority (JCA).

"It's humbling to be offered this role and I'm looking forward to doing my bit to establish the RIU. It's an exciting development for racing and demonstrates the industry's determination to work together and bring about improvements in the way the Rules of Racing are policed," Godber said.

He has more than 30 years' experience in the racing industry.

After working as secretary for the then NZ Racing Authority he was appointed chief executive at Addington Raceway in 1990 and oversaw its commercial transformation into a full-service entertainment venue.

From 2008, he was chief executive at Harness Racing Queensland, a post he held until July this year when he took the interim CEO post at South Australian Harness Racing Club.

- NZPA