Best case scenario: Three gallops meetings a week from July 1 - with lower stakes

The best case scenario of a return to racing on July 1 would see only three gallops meetings run in New Zealand per week.

This sneak look into the immediate future of racing was given by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO Bernard Saundry in a conference call with 50 club representatives from around the country.

The plan is initially for one meeting to be held each week in each of three designated regions - north, central and south.

Saundry signalled the intention for “free racing” - ie with no acceptance fees - in recognition that stakes will be “flatter” - read lower - to try to return at least something material to as wide a group of stakeholders as possible.

“Inevitably some venues will be favoured ahead of others with anticipated travel restrictions under a COVID-19 level 3 or even lower level forcing a reliance on venues with a high local equine concentration.”

Saundry said the geographic spread meant the South Island would need to be broken into sub-regions.

While lead-up trials would be necessary in the weeks after training facilities are reactivated, Saundry said NZTR expected horses to be directed to racing as soon as possible.

A draft calendar for July will be released on Thursday with a provisional one for the following three months out on Friday.

“Once spring racing swings into gear, a rescheduled black-type schedule will have to be incorporated in the revised structure.”

Saundry said there was a need for substantial change and people should expect a completely new model from the traditional calendar.