Racing: Warning bells in deep south

The Waikouaiti Racing Club's annual meeting on January 1 has been transferred to Wingatui with a question mark over future thoroughbred racing on the track.

The transfer follows an inspection of the Waikouaiti track by racing's governing body, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, in a national review of tracks.

The inspection committee stipulated a number of issues that needed to be addressed in relation to the track, but time limitations ruled out the work being completed before January 1.

Andre Klein, the chief executive of Gallop South, said: "We were given a shortlist of critical issues but given the length of time before the meeting we would not have been able to complete them."

The Waikouaiti club along with other clubs in Otago and Southland operate under the umbrella of Gallop South.

Klein said some of the issues raised were subsidence in areas of the track, the running rail, exposed concrete and the walkway for horses entering the birdcage.

He said that the club would now have to discuss whether it was worthwhile to carry out the renovations required.

"We will need to know if funding is available as the club is not in great financial shape," Klein said.

"The position of the club in the context of Gallop South will also need to be considered."

The Waikouaiti meeting has been abandoned twice in the last seven years. In 1998 it was called off after four races due to an unsafe track following rain.

Renovations were subsequently carried out on the track but the meeting was again abandoned after four races in 2002.

The inspection committee also identified issues at the Kurow and Cromwell tracks and some Southland tracks that need to be addressed before their scheduled next race meetings.

"There were issues with the commentator's box at Kurow and the running rail, the running rail at Cromwell and I understand issues with some Southland tracks, but nothing that cannot be fixed before the next meetings," Klein said.

A new running rail is to be installed at Cromwell by the Cromwell Lakes Equestrian Trust which operates the facility.

A new building to house administration and jockeys rooms will need to be constructed to ensure the future of Cromwell as a racing venue beyond the meeting in March.

"We will be seeking an undertaking from the Equestrian Trust to demolish the present building and replace it after the meeting in March," Klein said.

- NZPA