Overview & Structure

Overview

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Inc (NZTR) is the governing body of the thoroughbred code in New Zealand. Essentially it supplies the thoroughbred product for wagering and sporting customers and is 'captain of the team' for the thoroughbred code. More specifically its exists to:

Draw up and action the thoroughbred code's Business Plan, including performance targets, set the distribution policy and allocate funds within the thoroughbred code to maximize and sustain financial benefits.
Define, regulate and amend the policies and Rules of Racing of the thoroughbred code.
Represent the interests of thoroughbred code stakeholders, principally the 67 thoroughbred racing clubs operating on 51 galloping tracks.
Supply central secretariat services for the thoroughbred code – including keeping the New Zealand Stud Book (recording the activities of the more than 9000 broodmares pastured in New Zealand), maintaining the handicap, licensing trainers, jockeys and apprentices, registering all racing stock, publishing industry and code publications and information including maintaining New Zealand's largest racing database and supplying complete raceday form for all of the country's 325 thoroughbred racedays, collection of fees and payment of stakes and percentages, and taking nominations and withdrawals for all meetings by the National Racing Bureau.
Develop all equine training programmes in New Zealand and run dedicated apprentice schools in the main racing regions.
Communicate all relevant information to all its customers within and outside the thoroughbred code.
Foster increased awareness, interest, participation and investment in the thoroughbred code.

NZTR is based in Wellington with a full-time staff of 27. Its offices are in the same building as the New Zealand Racing Board, the TAB, Trackside TV, Radio Trackside and the Greyhound Racing New Zealand.

Governance

Currently NZTR is governed by a Board of six Directors.

At the NZTR AGM on 15 December 2010, Thoroughbred Racing Clubs throughout New Zealand agreed to support the process of the selection of a new independent Board to run NZTR. A Members’ Council was set up and charged with responsibility for all aspects of the appointment of six independent Directors.

Representatives from the three regions (Northern, Central and Southern) along with a representative from the Trainers, Owners and Breeders sector were then elected. The Members’ Council comprised: Victoria Carter, Danny Moss, David Smith, Wayne Guppy, Bruce Perry, John Wheeler, Murray Acklin, Bill Cotton, John Wood, Peter Francis, David Haworth and Neil Oldfield.

A Board of ten Directors, elected on a regional and sector basis, was replaced by six appointed, independent directors.

Appointments to the Board are for three year terms and for a maximum of three terms, that is, an initial term and two further terms of three years each.

Board of Directors
Matthew Goodson - Chairman
From Auckland, is Equities Portfolio Manager at BT Asset Management. He has 18 years of investment experience in NZ and New York at firms such as First NZ Capital and Goldman Sachs JB Were. He is a Director of Goodson & Perron Bloodstock Ltd, an operation involved in breeding and racing. Matthew has a Masters of Commerce and Administration and a BA in Economics.
Joe Walls - Deputy Chairman
From Auckland, has been selling bloodstock for over 40 years. He is currently Chairman of NZ Bloodstock and has held that role since 2006. He has been Chair and CEO of NZ Thoroughbred Marketing and before that was a Director of Wrightson Bloodstock for 14 years. He has been a breeder, owner and seller of thoroughbreds for the past three decades.
Con Anastasiou
From Wellington, is a lawyer specialising in corporate law, commercial law, intellectual property law and resource management law. He was the former Chairman of Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited and Chairman of the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited. He is a member of the New Zealand Law Society, a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, a member of the Institute of Directors and an Associate of the Arbitrators & Mediators Institute of New Zealand.
Des Friedrich
Des Friedrich is an experienced Racing administrator, who has spent 33 years working in the racing industry here and in Australia. For the past year he has lived in the Taranaki, where he is a Director and General Manager for Tuscany Construction NZ Ltd, which is the licensee for Platinum Homes. Friedrich served seven years as an Executive Director on the Australian Racing Board while CEO of the racing industry in the Northern Territory of Australia and was the Chief Executive of the Hawkes Bay Racing from 1988 to 1996 in New Zealand.
Greg McCarthy
From Cambridge, is a director of Sutton McCarthy Limited, a consultancy that provides strategic, financial and treasury advice to corporate and other clients. A Chartered Accountant Greg is a director of Click Clack Limited and Rangatira Forests Limited. Greg has been active in the thoroughbred industry for more than 20 years as a breeder and racehorse owner. Greg has a BCA in Economics and Commercial Law and is a Chartered Accountant. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies.
John Stace
From Hawke's Bay, built a career in the financial services sector in London. He founded Stace Barr Ltd which in the 1990's was one of Lloyd's of London's largest capital providers. He was Deputy Chairman of Lloyd's during its near demise and reconstruction. Since arriving back in NZ in 2005 Mr Stace has served on various Boards including Genesis Energy and Equestrian Sports of New Zealand.

Structure

Chief Executive: Greg Purcell

My focus, along with the rest of the NZTR staff, will be to continue to improve the services that NZTR offers to clubs and stakeholders and sustainability and growth. I am committed to building on NZTR’s leadership role in thoroughbred racing in New Zealand and to see further improvements for industry participants and stakeholders.

Greg has held a number of senior management positions in the racing industry including Chief Executive of Racingcorp, Chief Executive of New South Wales Country Racing Council and a senior management position at the Australian Jockey Club. “I have seen racing from several angles having been a stable hand, an owner (of more than 90 horses), a professional bookmaker, and an honorary country racing club official, as well as being an administrator.”

For a full list of staff contact details, please visit our Contacts page.