Meeting Report
Earlier this week, Trainers & Drivers Assn. representatives met with Gary Woodham and Catherine McDonald from HRNZ, to discuss issues that had been raised by the both the Northern and Canterbury branches.
First on the agenda was an increase in the losing driving fee. After some consideration it was decided, due to various current circumstances, to revisit the matter in twelve months time. It was felt that there was a need to standardise the way that horses were warmed up to avoid accidents that would be subject to OSH investigation. However, due to the different aspects of tracks around the Country, it was decided that signs should be erected at the entrance to all tracks, instructing which was the correct way to go. Also covered were penalties for infringements of the new starting regulations, the proposed installation of time clocks on the mobile gates, and the issue of drivers talking once on the track.
Two matters relating to online activity were raised, first of all the inability to be able to add drivers this way once the fields were posted, and the habit of Clubs automatically posting last start drivers, which can cause confusion around availability. These would be investigated, and it was proposed that online nominations would become compulsory in the near future.
Suggestion was made that it be written into the Regulations that a horse that gallops in the running should be immediately either taken down inside the markers, or out wide on the track to avoid causing interference to those behind.
There was lengthy debate over programming, and HRNZ is to undertake a full review of this, in conjunction with the Association and Club officials. The disappointing aspect of this, is that there is a need for some urgent action, particularly surrounding the low grade standing starts for pacers, which are regularly programmed to cover a 15 point rating band. Not only does this result in the lower rated horses often being balloted out, but the ones that stay in are almost always outclassed. Until the R35 minimum was introduced, there was a regular diet of R40 – R54, which was already too large so not only is there now no advantage to horses that have earned no money recently (e.g R30’s) in deference to ones that have e.g high R40’s
and R50), the range has increased by an extra point for reasons known only to the Handicapper (who I have asked for an explanation and been ignored). I have been approached by a number of small time trainers regarding this, and I am aware the situation has already resulted in the retirement of horses (and possibly trainers) that the Industry can ill afford to lose. While it is agreed that the entire programming set up needs to be reviewed, these horses will not be around to take advantage of it, unless something is done urgently.
However, on the whole, the meeting was beneficial to all parties and more have been promised in the future.
Pete Cook