Racing: One Racing off agenda at meeting with Carter

Former broadcaster Linda Clark is to facilitate a meeting of the chairmen of racing's three codes and the Racing Board, which runs the TAB, on Monday as they seek to find ways of making the industry more profitable.

The codes - thoroughbred, harness and greyhound - are divided over a thoroughbred plan, One Racing, which has the aim of setting up a single governing body for the industry so that costs can be reduced.

The Racing Board has backed it, but harness and greyhound have opposed it, saying they want control of their own governance, though they are open to sharing administrative services.

In his June monthly report, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) head Malcolm Holmes said a one-day workshop had been arranged between board representatives and chief executives of the three codes and the board, in conjunction with Racing Minister John Carter, to discuss the One Racing proposal.

However, the parties are now refraining from the One Racing topic, saying the meeting was to discuss change with the aim of improved profitability.

"The codes have been divided around One Racing, but this is not about One Racing as such, but about devising a plan for the industry to go forward. It is about change," said NZTR chairman Guy Sargent.

Carter had called the meeting, he said. Carter's office said the meeting had nothing to do with One Racing.

"It is to brainstorm about ways to improve the profitability of racing," a spokeswoman said.

Sir John Anderson was originally engaged to be the facilitator, but had had to withdraw and Clark had agreed to do it, Sargent said.

She has facilitated other events and is a guest speaker at public and company functions.

One aspect the codes are known to be looking at integrating is what they call their integrity functions - the work of their stipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors.

- NZPA