Pike ramps up action by trainers and gets invitation to Wednesday conference call

New Zealand Trainers’ Association president Tony Pike has tightened the screws on the Racing Industry Transition Agency by recommending today that trainers delay bringing horses back into work until it gets answers to key questions on the sustainability of the industry.

Pike said he had gained huge support from trainers, owners and breeders since revealing yesterday RITA had shrugged off his attempts to discover, among other things, whether there would be enough stake money to justify owners racing their horses after lockdown ends on Monday.

The pressure of possible action by trainers has subsequently led to Pike receiving an invitation from RITA to join its conference call with the code CEOs on Wednesday after its board meeting.

Pike says he has been given no undertaking that RITA will divulge what prize money distributions will be made for the rest of the season and the start of the new season.

“But hopefully we’ll find out a lot more about the position we are in and what they can do to fix a broken business.”

Pike said since he sent out his initial newsletter he had received the backing of countless trainers, the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and the NZ Racehorse Owners’ Federation, who were also requesting information from RITA.

“RITA have made it clear there will not be answers to the questions raised in our letter until after their board meeting next Wednesday. We wanted answers by midday on Monday and when they said this was not possible they were made aware of our dissatisfaction.’’

In a second letter to trainers this afternoon Pike says: “Clearly RITA has no regard or respect for trainers who are desperate to bring their horses back into work and get their businesses underway after the four-week level four lockdown.

“We know your horses must be jumping out of their skin – and your staff keen to start earning money again.

“However, due to the lack of transparency and information from RITA, there is much uncertainty around the distribution of funds to the codes for stakes and indeed whether or not RITA is actually even solvent. This gives us no confidence at all in their operation and management of the livelihoods of stakeholders.

“We therefore recommend you put off bringing horses back into work until we hear answers to our questions.

“Many leading trainers have advised they are not prepared to take the risk of bringing horses back to their stables, when there is a chance they will only have to turn them out again as the stake levels may not justify an owner’s expense.”