Time to shine a light on racing leaders

Time to shine a light on racing leaders

The actions of key figures in the NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the NZ Racing Board are being challenged by small racing clubs.

The Small Clubs Association chairman Geoff Humphries says meeting minutes obtained under an Official Information Act request show the ‘One Racing Taskforce’ had a secret agenda of closing venues against the wishes of the clubs concerned.

“Taskforce minutes show the Avondale, Dargaville and Manukau Greyhounds tracks were marked for closure and sale even while NZTR chairman Guy Sargent was publicly denying an agenda to close the clubs,” he says.

Mr Humphries said that in 2009 the NZTR produced a ‘Concept Calendar” which listed 17 venues for closure and kept it secret from the clubs until it was leaked.

“Small clubs feel the NZTR was less than forthcoming at their AGM about their agenda to rationalise small venues,” he says.

“NZTR even went as far as getting a legal opinion from Bell Gully on how to get their hands on the cash from the sale of clubs which were to be refused race allocations at their own courses.

“It’s time to shine a light on the actions of Mr Sargent, Racing Board chairperson Michael Stiassny and NZTR nominee to the Racing Board Alastair Sutherland,” he says.

“If they have deliberately misinformed the clubs they need to go.”

ENDS

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