John Allen was at Forbury Park yesterday as he wrapped up his ``conversations'' around the country, talking to and taking questions from people involved in the racing industry across all three codes.
About 50 people attended yesterday's session, which started with Allen outlining the places where the NZRB could increase the money coming into the industry.
The last few weeks had been enlightening for Allen, and reinforced the challenges ahead. He attended the Harness Racing New Zealand awards, followed by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing awards a week later, where the nation's best trainers, jockeys, drivers and horses were recognised.
But it was a trip to Matamata the next day when he was talking to young trainers that really drove home the challenge, when they asked ``should we stay in the industry or pack up and go to Australia?''.
The low returns to those at the coal face were caused by operating costs, revenue with room for improvement, a customer base that did not always continue punting and a racing calendar that needed tweaking.
Aside from the race fields legislation that was being proposed, the board was planning to invest in an automated fixed odds and sports betting system, which would leave behind a manual system that was eating into costs.
Allen said projections suggested that if all the board's planned cost-saving measures were put into place, up to $55million extra could be paid out across the three codes each season, which could be distributed through stakes.
Meeting attendees raised concerns about the changes to the racing form in the print media - notably the absence of doubles and trebles information - along with changes to phone betting and the potential loss of teletext.
Longtime southern thoroughbred racing administrator Murray Acklin expressed concern about the lack of exposure of racing in mainstream television media, and the board's plans to upgrade or replace the Jetbet system after a failed attempt to establish a new betting platform several years ago.
Forbury Park Trotting Club general manager Rodney Moore said closer inspection had to be made of the funding models, particularly for clubs that owned their own tracks and facilities, which needed to be maintained, unlike clubs that leased out their tracks on race day.
Tuapeka Harness Racing Club's Brent Taylor was positive after attending the recent Harness Racing New Zealand annual conference, noting the funding model adopted by Southland harness racing clubs might go some way towards the industry holding on to its best horses.
Allen said he intended to hold similar forums around the country every few months.
