NZTR introduces blanket ban on training gallopers at public courses during lockdown

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing today introduced a blanket ban on the training of thoroughbreds at training centres.

NZTR General Manager Welfare and Sustainability Martin Burns said the decision was made after observing the ability of trainers to successfully turn out hundreds of horses to agistment properties during the week.

“While NZTR has contacted nearly all racing clubs in the past three days, we haven’t compiled a tally of the number of tracks which were still open this morning. But training at these centres is no longer permitted.

“Chief among the reasons is to avoid any risk of rider injury, which would be an unnecessary diversion for ambulance and other health providers who must focus on responding to and overcoming COVID-19.”

Burns said NZTR was grateful to trainers and clubs for their responsible attitude and agile response.

Burns earlier today put out a revised directive that set out the criteria which now allows licence holders to keep exercising horses on their own properties.

In essence it recognises both the physical and mental well-being of racehorses, particularly younger ones, and outlines how they can be ridden up to half pace.

But tonight he said he could not comment yet on how that might impact on racing when it eventually resumes or whether meetings might not be scheduled until the new season to allow horses unable to train on public courses to catch up fitness wise.

Bernard Saundry … “no one has a mortgage on good ideas.”NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said tonight that rather than dwelling on the downside of the Covid-19 lockdown and how different the new calendar will look, he believed the focus should be on the opportunity it gave to reset the industry.

“We can use this as an opportunity to do things differently, change things up and create a model which will sustain us into the future.

“We already have a team working on various permutations of what a resumption of racing might look like. There are some interesting ideas being thrown around and everything will be considered.

“While the group we have put together does possess extensive experience and knowledge, we also acknowledge that no one has a mortgage on good ideas.

“There will be industry participants who are also pondering racing’s future. If you have any thoughts on how you think racing could restructure itself as we rebuild from the impact of COVID-19 then please share them via email with Enable JavaScript to view protected content..”