Racing: Lawyers called in over accreditation

Harness Racing New Zealand is backing itself over a controversial accreditation fee despite having to seek a Queen's Counsel ruling.

The move comes after threatened High Court action by Christchurch businessman Kypros Kotzikas, who is also one of the more prominent racehorse owners in harness racing.

Kotzikas has legal advice from two Christchurch solicitors which claims the accreditation proposal is unlawful.

A decision was made at last year's HRNZ annual conference that from next month a compulsory registration scheme would be imposed for harness racing breeders and owners.

Kotzikas sent the correspondence to HRNZ but its general manager, Edward Rennell, remains comfortable that it has dealt with the matter correctly.

"We have had our lawyers look at it again and we believe it is legally defensible," Rennell said.

"But to prove we are legally right, we have asked for an independent Queen's Counsel ruling."

Kotzikas contends from his legal advice that HRNZ does not have the power to introduce the scheme.

"I have asked them to scrap it," he said.

"If they don't discard the scheme within the next month, it looks as though we will have to put the issue before the High Court.

"The scheme was promoted as being in the best interests of the industry but the so-called benefits of the scheme were completely illusionary and it seems to be a simple money-making exercise for HRNZ itself."

Kotzikas says the compulsory proposal will take HRNZ across the line from managing on-course racing to a position where it will interfere in the legitimate off-course commercial activities of the country's owners and breeders.

"With owners and breeders contributing over $160 million per year to the economy, the time has come for them to properly organise themselves," Kotzikas said.

He is a major buyer and breeder and raced 1997 New Zealand Cup winner Iraklis.

- NZPA