NZTR Business Plan

The 2012-2014 Business Plan was released by NZTR on 6 December 2011.

This business plan supports NZTR’s three core objectives:

• Promoting the sport of thoroughbred racing
• Maximising returns to industry participants
• Increasing efficiency and effectiveness

The plan is structured with a series of staged activities that are targeted to achieve short and long term industry improvements to deliver the key outcomes the industry requires.

The core activities and outcomes from the business plan are:

• Maximise performance of the current model
• Reposition the industry
• Work with stakeholders to drive industry performance

Accountability and transparency

This business plan provides the first step in a broader process of change and development required for the industry to move forward. It requires action and commitment.

While the plan details 22 individual work streams, the key areas of activity are:

• Racing Structure
• Supporting NZRB performance
• Internationalisation of New Zealand racing
• Developing key infrastructure
• Increasing accountability, transparency and efficiency

NZTR will develop a sustainable racing structure to maximise wagering revenues across the 3,040 races per annum to be conducted in FY12-FY14.

We need to offer a product that fits into the timeslots and lifestyles that our customers demand. NZTR has introduced a new structure of racing from 1 March 2012 designed to maximise domestic and international wagering on New Zealand thoroughbred racing, which involves racing 52 weeks of the year on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with racing every Tuesday in autumn and spring and on Sundays between November and March.

Prizemoney and programming amendments provide a greater differentiation between quality Saturday racing and other days of the week. The Business Plan is available online at www.nzracing.co.nz/about/publications.aspx

Handicapping

Changes to the handicapping and race programming were introduced on 14 November 2011 which were designed to better align race programming with horse populations. Whilst the new system will take some time to bed down, the early signs look encouraging.

At the time of writing 288 races were conducted across 31 meetings with an average field size of 11.6 runners per race, with the average field size for:

• Maidens of 12.7 starters across 102 races
• Rating 65 of 11.6 starters across 74 races
• Rating 75 of 11.1 starters across 41 races
• Rating 85 of 9.7 starters across 25 races
• Opens of 10.5 starters across 25 races
• 2YO of 8.4 starters across 7 races
• 3YO of 9.7 starters across 9 races
• Special Condition races of 13.4 starters across 5 races

Contrary to the misconceptions of some people, of the 269 races open to horses of both sexes 146.5 (55.5%) were won by males and 122.5 (45.5%) were won by females.

Across all 288 races conducted during this period (including the 19 races restricted to fillies and mares):

• Males comprised 1,678 (50.4%) of the starters, winning 50.9% of the races
• Females comprising 1,650 (49.6%) of the starters, winning 49.1% of the races

NZTR will continue to review the performance and seek to address any problems identified in the implementation of the new system programming and handicapping system.

Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules

Following discussions and negotiations with other members of the Asian Racing Federation, NZTR has agreed to support the implementation of the Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules which seek to replicate European Pattern Committee Ground Rules and set specific “international ratings” benchmarks for upgrading and downgrading of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races.

NZTR has undertaken considerable work over recent months, including international peer review of our 3YO race events, to ensure black type races are fairly and equitably assessed. Following a detailed review, NZTR is satisfied that the ANZ ratings now appropriately assess the true merits of the performance of New Zealand horses.

Whilst some races may over time be subject to upgrading and downgrading by the New Zealand Pattern Committee, NZTR is confident that there will be no significant alteration to the mix of Group and Listed races as a result of the adoption of the Asian Pattern Committee Ground Rules.