Trainers & Drivers/HRNZ Meeting Report 15 December 2022
APOLOGIES: Mike Clement(RIB), Gavin Burgess
PRESENT: 22 license-holders, (5 on zoom)
The meeting began with a review of the current state of the Trainers & Drivers Association, in particular, the Greater Canterbury Branch.
Ken Barron announced that he was standing down after 9 years of excellent service as Chair, and Jamie Gameson was elected unopposed as his successor. Regan Todd was then elected as vice-chair. Following discussion, a number of people, volunteered to serve on the Committee. These included Bob Butt, Brad Mowbray, John Dunn, Steven McRae, Kyle Cameron. A number of others were to be approached including Katie Cox, Carter Dalgety, Sarah O’Reilly, Sam Thornley, John Morrison. A final list of personnel will be circulated in the near future.
Various issues were then discussed, including funding of the Association and the possibility of that increasing, Pete Cook announcing his resignation and the requirement for a new Secretary from 1 August 2023, frequency of meetings of the three Branches and open meetings for license-holders, the use of IT through HRNZ, and issues surrounding the role of the Handicapper. The latter should be improved with the advent of a Programming Committee and a stronger T & D Assn.
At this point, the meeting was joined by Gary Woodham and Catherine McDonald from HRNZ. Gary began by outlining the current state of the Industry. He warned that, due to Government policies relating to animal welfare activists keen to see racing shut down, Health and Safety and animal welfare were to become huge issues, with records having to be kept to cover these, based on a generic plan that would be available on Infohorse. Stables would be audited by government officials. He stressed that these measures were being forced on them by Government and were not HRNZ ideas. A decision resulting from the review into greyhounds was due, and while it may seem that closing that code down would be good for harness racing, it would not as, because the other codes would be unable to fill the gaps due to a shortage of horses, and running costs would remain almost the same, it would reduce TAB revenue, and therefore code payouts . With regard to the recent announcement of a $15m reduction in TAB payouts, Gary’s background of working for the TAB led him to believe at the figures being quoted were incorrect. Along with the other codes, he was challenging the decision, and had arranged an urgent audit to be undertaken. Plans were being worked out on how to manage the Industry, should the cuts be confirmed. The TAB was investigating partnering with overseas betting agencies, however this would be on the condition of geo-fencing being introduced which, even if approved, could take some time. The idea had previously been rejected by former Racing Minister Winston Peters.
Plans were underway to establish three Regional Programming Committees by the end of July, each consisting of 3-4 people who would produce programmes out to three months, and set overarching programming principles to promote competitive racing, and the best wagering results. The Trainers & Drivers were invited to submit suitable names and principles for consideration. As per the HRNZ Constitution, the overall control would still be with an overseer, who would ensure that, for instance, clashes with similar races in other parts of the Country did not occur. This structure could be challenged with a remit to the Annual Conference. The issue of re-introducing handicaps for the Cup races will be reviewed in January, which will take into account that revenue is from Gross Betting Revenue as opposed to turnover. Harness racing is not popular in Australia, and Australian thoroughbred racing is a major contributor to TAB profits. General discussion on how programmes are formulated ensued, and how the new committees will handle this in the future. An essential part of the system will be trainers advising what horses they have in work, and at what stage of readiness they are.
Concern was expressed at inconsistencies in the policing of the whip rule and the penalties being handed out. Gary agreed and suggested that the Association contact the RIB. Secretary advised that Mike Clement had agreed to attend meeting in the new year. Gary also suggested that the Trainers & Drivers Assn. work with HRNZ in an approach to the RIB voicing concern at the regular inconsistencies being shown. The same will apply to whether a remit concerning the lengthening of disqualification deferment should be considered. Strong pressure was being brought to bear from animal welfare groups who were determined to have racing shut down, and banning the whip was likely to be part of that in the future. The issues surrounding celebratory gestures was discussed and it was agreed that work would be done on this to satisfy all parties before the next annual conference, although under Rule 103(A) it may be possible to address the above issues prior to that. Gary acknowledged that the Rules as they stand are badly in need of a complete update.
A suggestion that stakes for supporting races on Cup Day were too low, was acknowledged and agreed, however, the finance was not available to change them at present.
Gary stressed that the decision whether to close the Orari track or any other that had been recommended by the Sapere Report, had not been made, and would probably not be made until July. He advised he had travelled to Orari and been impressed by what he saw and was told, and the Geraldine Club would be doing a presentation to the HRNZ Board in February, as have other Clubs such as Rangiora. He also wanted to establish an HRNZ training centre in both the North Island and Canterbury to encourage young trainers.
Various aspects of the proposed changes to Junior driver criteria were outlined, as well as advising that currently, should a junior with less than 10 wins be used, the horse would only be penalised half points, which the majority of those present were unaware of. This limit would now be raised to 50 wins from 1 January 2023. Various other changes would be announced in the new year following Board approval. The new conditions are seen as being generous, however a major concern was the number of young drivers that disappear from the Industry when they come out of the junior ranks. The criteria for championships are also being reviewed.
Gary advised that he is seeking legal advice on introducing a Racing Protection Fee to be levied on exported horses, other than those bought at the Yearling Sales, which would gain some recompense for the costs involved in horses having used New Zealand facilities to educate, trial and race prior to a sale. This proposal will be put out for consultation. No amount had been decided on at this point.
There was detailed discussion on the recent issue regarding a disqualified license-holder being initially granted permission to break in horses. Michael Heenan outlined the feeling of the Industry, including how the HRNZ Board justified their decision on a repeat offender who had only served a quarter of his disqualification, a lack of transparency, a lack of response to the reaction to the decision until much later on, and the hope that any such decision in the future would be made after consultation with Industry participants such as the Trainers & Drivers Assn. In response Gary described the timeline, advising that the decision had been made in principle under the Rules, subject to strict conditions which he had been tasked to compile, but had not done so when the story broke in the media. Following discussions with senior horsemen he was in the process of writing the conditions the following week, when Nigel McGrath withdrew his application. Subsequently Gary has sought legal advice on how the process can be improved, and has received a recommendation that, instead of the Board, such decisions would be made by an independent panel of judges or similar, which will be tabled at an upcoming Board meeting. Further discussion took place on what a disqualified person is permitted to do, which is policed by the RIB, as has been the case in the McGrath case. While he is permitted to go onto a trainer’s property and transport horses, advising HRNZ that he is doing so, under the Rules of Racing, he is not allowed to enter the actual stabling area. If he does, he is in breach of his disqualification terms. A previous request for permission to graze horses had been granted, in conjunction with the RIB, after it was discovered that there was nothing in the Rules to prevent that. Moving forward, Gary stressed that work needed to be done on the possibility of changing the relevant Rules by HRNZ, in conjunction with the RIB and the Trainers & Drivers Assn. These needed to be in line with the laws of natural justice, and will be subject to final approval by the NZ Racing Exemption Committee, which rules on any disqualified person wishing to re-enter the Industry.
Pete Cook