Ambitious target date set for harness racing and remaining feature races axed
By Barry Lichter • 1 April 2020
Harness Racing New Zealand today confirmed that racing will be restricted to only five or six venues for a minimum of three months when it restarts, hopefully at the end of May or early in June.
HRNZ chairman Ken Spicer revealed its ambitious target date today, stressing it was dependent on when New Zealand moved out of its level 4 lockdown, and what the Government ruled was allowable under level 3.
Spicer also confirmed that meetings would be held with no public attending and licensees would be unable to move between regions.
Ken Spicer … trainers and drivers will not be allowed to move between regions.HRNZ’s draft plan focusses on a four month calendar from June to September but Spicer said obviously racing would not be able to resume until there was a big enough pool of fit horses.
“Once we return to racing, the initial focus will be to provide weekly racing opportunities for the majority of the horse population.”
The HRNZ board has confirmed that any feature or Group races that were due to be held from March 24 to the end of the 2019-20 season would not be run, nor will they be rescheduled. This includes the Harness Jewels.
“The exception is those races administered by the New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Board and we continue to work with them on options for rescheduling those races to the next season.
“This was a very difficult decision to make, however it is important that we give trainers and owners some certainty as they make plans for their horses.
“There will be a need to reshape racing across all codes as we develop a clearer picture of what the full impact of COVID-19 will have on the TAB and the subsequent funding to the codes.”
Spicer said “a racing ecosystem” had to be designed that reflected the likelihood that it would be some time before the Government brings New Zealand back to Alert Level 1.
HRNZ was vigorously reviewing all costs, including employee and contractor payments, he said.
More news in Harness
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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
