Everyone in harness racing will be the losers over the on-going "accreditation" issue, Harness Racing New Zealand chairman John Penney said yesterday.
HRNZ's efforts to implement a $30 accreditation fee for owners was last year challenged and overruled by the High Court 11 months ago. HRNZ has since appealed the High Court ruling and a decision is expected to be reserved for several months.
Penney, addressing the annual meeting of harness racing clubs in Christchurch, said there would be no winners.
"I have always held the view that there will be no winners as a result of the court ruling, and the subsequent appeal by Harness Racing New Zealand," he said.
"The costs of defending our position in monetary terms, amounts to tens of thousands of dollars, with countless man hours being devoted to merely attempting to protect the right of HRNZ to administer the standardbred industry in a fair and equitable manner.
"I believe the actions of a minority have set the industry back many years and done a disservice to owners and the breeding industry."
Penney again expressed HRNZ's concern regarding the influx in betting on overseas racing to the detriment of the local product.
However, he said some sectors of the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) were not convinced HRNZ had a substantive case despite but Penney believed it had.
"I believe recent trends are indicating the validity of our concerns," Penney said.
"The [HRNZ] executive will keep applying pressure in this area in the hope that logic must finally prevail."
Penney advised harness racing's lack of Saturday dates, and escalation of greyhound dates, had been vigorously addressed with NZRB but at this stage was unsuccessful in effecting any change.
Retiring treasurer Peter Burns reported a deficit of $27,343 on HRNZ's operations for the last year, opposed to the budgeted figure of $19,560.
Main revenue earners were fines and penalties, which were ahead of budget by $7000, interest at $57,500, levies and publications.
Administration cost $1,202,414, compared to the budget figure of $1,096,000, and costs increased for legal expenses to HRNZ's judicial appeal.
- NZPA
Racing: 'No winners in accreditation issue'
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