Kiss goodbye to listening to the nags on your radio - TAB to suspend broadcasts on Sunday

Racing will disappear from the airwaves from midnight on Sunday night.

In a cost-saving move the Racing Industry Transition Agency says the TAB will suspend broadcasts on all 31 of its AM and FM radio frequencies around the country.

Punters from Invercargill to Kaitaia who who have relied on the radio to hear their horse racing will now only be able to access the commentaries on the TAB website, the TAB app or through the Rova app.

In a statement on its website RITA says the decision to suspend the broadcasts reflects the absence of New Zealand racing during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It is aligned with our efforts to reduce non-critical costs throughout the business.

“The TAB recognises the suspension of the simulcast broadcast of Trackside TV will impact some customers and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

It says a lifting of the suspension will be reviewed once New Zealand racing restarts, which could be in July if the coronavirus alert level drops to 3 in two weeks.

It will be the first time in 42 years that punters will not be able to follow the horses on their radios, since Radio Pacific started dedicated broadcasting in 1978.

The New Zealand Racing Board took over full ownership of the service in April, 2015 when it became known as TAB Trackside Radio.