NZ Thoroughbred Racing will be conducting regional roadshows around the country as the industry adapts to the changes brought about by the Racing Industry Act 2020.
The first of the roadshows will be held in the South Island this week, commencing at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill at 10am on Thursday, 13 August. Later that evening, between 4 and 6pm it will be the turn of Otago industry participants and stakeholders to engage with NZTR Board chairman Dr Alan Jackson, chief executive Bernard Saundry and GM Racing & Infrastructure Tim Aldridge, at Wingatui racecourse.
The South Island leg will conclude on Friday, 14 August at 12noon at the Tea House at Riccarton Park racecourse. “NZTR's functions and powers are changing since the Act was passed and this is an opportunity for us to get out and talk about what that means for us all as an industry,” Saundry said. “The Board's focus over the past six months since March has been around the impact of COVID-19, the return to racing and the passage of the Racing Act through Parliament.
“With the future in mind, the Board and Members' Council will meet in September to discuss elections for the Board which are coming about due to retirement and rotation. The agenda for the roadshows includes a segment from the Members' Council regarding their role and the election process.”
Among other issues to be discussed at the roadshows will be Racing NZ, which was born out of the new Act, equine welfare, the industry venue plan, and club awards which recognise those clubs and individuals performing above expectations.
“There will also be an opportunity to take questions from the floor and engage in discussion and we hope plenty of industry participants take the opportunity to come along and express their views,” Saundry said.
The regional roadshows will continue during the last week of August where the North Island will host meetings at Awapuni (Wednesday, 26 August, 10am-12noon), Te Rapa (Thursday 27 August, 11.30am-1.30pm), and Ellerslie (Friday 28 August, 10am-12noon).