Racing: Capital nervous at cuts

The Wellington Racing Club faces the prospect of dropping to just nine racedays for the 2005-06 season.

That would be a loss of six days and relegate them behind Hawkes Bay (14 days) and Taranaki (10) in terms of racedays for clubs in the lower North Island.

The new dates are contained in the draft calendar released by the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) this month.

Club officials are reluctant to comment at this stage but are unhappy about the situation.

President Michael Brown said the new calendar, if it remained in its current form, would have far-reaching repercussions.

"It is a very significant change and needs a lot of examination," Brown said. "We are continuing to have discussions with the racing board and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing."

At dispute are three racedays, formerly held by Wellington, that are being offered to other clubs in the Wellington region. The club had been happy to drop three days but was upset it might increase to six.

NZRB industry liaison manager Tony Severinsen said there was a feeling the Wellington club did a good job with the premier-type meetings but struggled with the lower-level fixtures.

"With the horse population centralised around the Manawatu, Wellington has struggled to attract horses to their lesser meetings when they can race for similar stakes closer to home."

The three dates held by Wellington and on offer to other clubs in the region are April 8, May 6 and June 10.

Under the new dates structure, Wellington's nine fixtures would include six with premier status. Previously they had seven.

Notable features of the new structure include having just one meeting at Labour Weekend - on the Saturday - and only one fixture in July. The winter meeting comprised three days until 2000 and this year has two premier days.

The March meeting has also been cut to one day and the three-day cup meeting will comprise two premier days instead of three with Wellington Anniversary Day reverting to feature status. A new premier day has been placed on May 27.

Significant changes have been made, including switching the Auckland Cup carnival from Christmas-New Year to three days on March 4, 8 and 11. The Auckland Cup will be staged on March 8 with the New Zealand Derby on March 4.

The pattern review also means the New Zealand Oaks, run at Trentham, will move from January to March 18 - a fortnight after the New Zealand Derby.

Other significant changes include the Masterton meeting, previously held in October, moving to March 4. The Lowland Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies, is expected to be run over 2000m as a prelude to the Oaks.

Taranaki's premier autumn date has moved forward to February 18 with the Ford 2yo Classic being run a fortnight after the Mercedes Classique and a fortnight before the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes.

A total of 825 licences are contained in the draft, an increase of 28 on last year. There are a total of 301 galloping permits - up four from last year - while harness also has increased by four to 230. Greyhounds has climbed to 294, up 20.

Clubs have until Tuesday to make submissions on the dates.

- NZPA