A call for the three racing codes to form a single industry
body has been criticised by greyhound and harness racing
representatives who say it will lead to the rationalisation
of venues.
A racing industry task force, which has the support of New
Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and the New Zealand Racing Board,
has found the industry could save $11 million a year if a
single industry body was formed.
If the three codes - thoroughbred racing, greyhounds and
harness racing - adopted a shared services model they could
save $7 million a year in costs, and a "one industry"
approach could save a further $4 million a year, the One
Racing: Industry Task Force Report, released yesterday, said.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Guy Sargent, of
Palmerston North, said the task force was borne out of a
governance review of "our archaic structure" more than a year
ago.
While the task force did not involve the New Zealand
Greyhound Racing Association or Harness Racing New Zealand it
did have "several independents" including Kerry Hoggard and
Kevin Hickman, Sargent said.
Other members of the taskforce are Michael Stiassny, Andrew
Brown, Sir Patrick Hogan, Bill Gianotti, Alistair Sutherland
and Sargent.
The task force findings, which had the unanimous support of
the NZTR board, would be debated at the annual meeting on
January 22.
There would need to be unanimous support from all
thoroughbred clubs before it was discussed with other codes,
he said.
"I don't see how people could vote against it."
Sargent said the findings of the task force was not about
codes, but about improving an industry which was united by
its ownership of the TAB.
He cited Gallop South as an example of what the industry
could achieve if it looked at reviewing its structure.
"They have been a real success and we think we can do
something similar nationally."
Sargent dismissed concerns smaller clubs would disappear, or
that thoroughbred racing was intent on taking over the other
codes.
The findings had been discussed with Racing Minister John
Carter who "was very supportive", Sargent said.
However, the report was described as "simplistic and
inaccurate" by Harness Racing New Zealand chairman Pat
O'Brien, of Blenheim, who feared it would lead to the
rationalisation of clubs.
O'Brien, who was informed about the report only last week,
said it was unlikely rugby, rugby league or football would
ever unite to be one code, "so why would we?"Both harness
racing and greyhounds had increased in popularity in recent
years, and this latest move was a possible attempt by
thoroughbred racing for control of the industry and to "close
venues".
