Pike positive about news that all gallops races in July will carry a $15,000 stake

“It could have been a lot worse.”

That was the feeling of New Zealand Trainers’ Association president Tony Pike on learning the news today that all gallops races run until the end of the season will carry a stake of $15,000.

The stakes plan for 13 meetings in July will also feature payments back to 14th place to ensure a wider distribution of stakes to more owners.

New Zealand Thorougbred Racing has confirmed no nomination or acceptance fees will be paid.

Race programming will see open nominations to ensure those horses wanting to race are able to gain a start.

Pike said while it was not ideal for open class horses and maidens to be racing for the same prizemoney, it was a very good start to get the industry up and running.

“It’s unfortunate if you’ve got a high class open galloper, but during July, in the middle of winter the majority of horses racing will be maidens and rating 65 horses.

“At least this gives more people some sort of decent return.”

Pike said he sees the stakes recipe as only a short term fix.

Tony Pike … $15,000 stake a positive step in the short term.“You wouldn’t want to see flat stakes for the while of next season but this will get horses out there. At one stage there we were talking a $10,000 minimum so it’s not disastrous at all. I see $15,000 as a positive.”

Pike said the general feeling he got from today’s conference call with RITA was that, like all other businesses, it was “looking very hard at its own cost base, plus the Racing Integrity Unit and Judicial Control Authority.

“It was nice to at last have open dealings with RITA, that’s all we’ve been asking for.

“And if we can come out the other side of COVID-19 a leaner, meaner machine, once turnover gets back up we could be travelling a lot better.”

NZTR chairman Dr Alan Jackson recognised the $15,000 flat stake was a different approach.

“But NZTR recognises this as an opportunity to provide some innovation and flexibility around the payment of stakes to owners, trainers and jockeys during July.”

Confirmation of RITA’s transitional funding to the codes follows discussions with codes, and industry consultation on a draft racing calendar. The distribution from RITA reflects the reduced racing over the period and the phased return to racing for each code.

NZTR and the other codes are also working with RITA on funding and race dates for the 2020/21 season.

Deatils of programming:

• All races will be special conditions open entry races.

• NZTR will advertise only the distances of the races programmed to be run at a meeting.

• Races will be open for two-year-olds to provide them with opportunities to race.

• The objective is to provide opportunities for all horses and to maximise field sizes, which will vary depending on track layouts and rail placements. Final field selection will be made at withdrawal time, when NZTR will finalise the actual races to be run.

• NZTR may run specific age group races if numbers permit. For example, if there are 11 two-year-olds out of 24 horses nominated for a 1200m race, two 1200m races could be run – one for two-year-olds only (at SW and P conditions) with the other 13 horses making up the second race. Flexibility will be the key.

• Specific races for three-year-olds only will be considered for programming for post-July racing. However, if numbers permit post-withdrawals, then a race over a specific distance could be run for three-year-olds only.

• Highweight races (for jumpers and highweight riders only) will be run over distances of 1600m or more in the North Island only. These races will be advertised separately as highweights.

• There will be no amateur riders’ race series this year, with the probable exception of the Duke of Gloucester Cup which may be run at Wanganui in November.

* An announcement on stakes from Harness Racing New Zealand is imminent and is expected to reveal a $7000 minimum.