Racing: Owners lining up for fees break

The plan to remove $2.8 million in nomination and acceptance fees from January 1 rests with the New Zealand Racing Board.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing this week made an application to the Racing Board for additional funding to allow its proposal to be implemented.

"It is definitely dependant on the additional funding being granted," said NZTR CEO Paul Bittar yesterday.

The removal of nomination and acceptance fees for all but group and listed stakes races will bring the thoroughbred industry into line with the harness code.

The proposal is a great boost for owners, particularly coming in the same season as the 26 per cent overall stakes increase for the new season generated from the $30 million-plus annual tax break pushed through by Racing Minister Winston Peters. "The overall package is $11.2 million going back to owners," said Bittar yesterday.

Tuesday's NZTR board meeting endorsed a proposal to align the New Zealand weight-for-age scale with Australia's.

"The main difference will be the removal of the sliding scale of weighing 3-year-olds against older horses," said Bittar.

"At some parts of the season in New Zealand 3-year-olds have been getting a 2.5kg allowance, sliding back to 1kg at some point.

"Now there is 2.5kg across the board."

The board felt that it was not so much a matter of which system was right, it was simply desirable to have both countries using the same system.

"It's now an Australasian handicap model and that's important.

"Our weight-for-age scale was 10 times more complicated than Australia's."

The search for a replacement for NZTR's general manager of racing Alan Cole will be advertised in Australia and New Zealand next week.

Cole, originally with the Counties Racing Club, has resigned from NZTR to move back north.

An email from Bittar's desk yesterday included:

"The $1.685 million equates to the cost of free racing being implemented from January 1, 2007 (annualised cost is $2.8 million). This $2.8 million equates to the annual cost saving to owners (then add another $300,000 in current GST leakage, so saving of over $3 million!).

"NZTR's proposal assumes continuation of funding of the maiden starter subsidy (estimated $750,000) for the 06/07 season, confirmed by NZRB.

"For clarity, we're going to set minimum stakes increases of approximately 26 per cent."

The board was committed to:

* An increase in minimum stakes across all races.

* Establishing Saturday stakes differentials to drive wagering and participation [the board has committed to ensuring it maximises participation on strategic wagering days].

* An increase in group and listed minimums to ensure New Zealand stays competitive in the Australasian region (minimum group 1 stakes for 20062007 will be $150,000, and minimum group two stakes will be $100.000).