Last year began with an incident that stunned the harness racing community in this Country, when we held our breath and waited for news on Ricky May. That episode, which thankfully had a happy outcome, was the ‘preview’ to a year that most people in the World would rate as one of the worst in history.

Way back in 1992, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in her Christmas message, made popular a Latin phrase, describing her year as an “Annus Horribilus” (loosely translated as a horrible year), after a number of controversies swept through her family.

It’s fair to say that, despite the system being generally accepted as being a good way of handling integrity issues in the harness racing industry, the RIU/JCA have, for various reasons over the past couple of years, taken on the image of ‘bogey men’.

As always, the topics discussed were wide ranging at the recent National Council meeting, held in the HRNZ Boardroom.

The National Council meeting this week saw a significant change in personnel, particularly in relation to Northern representation.

Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the May meeting of the Trainers & Drivers National Council didn’t happen.

It has become apparent that some drivers have recently launched a petition opposing the recent changes in the use of whips. There are also rumours circulating suggesting that some form of strike action is being considered by some in the near future.

As you may know, Harness Racing Australia has announced that, in future, their racing season will run from 1 January until 31 December in line with the USA. Obviously the question is now, does this Country follow suit?

Recently, representatives of the Trainers & Drivers Greater Canterbury Branch, met with RIU Stewards and the two Canterbury starters, to discuss ways of improving race starts in the area.

Two weeks following the introduction of the new whip rules and it seems that most drivers are getting the hang of them, according to Head Steward Nick Ydgren. He recently reported to the Association: