New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has welcomed the findings of the Messara Report into the state of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand, which was released this week.
“It’s time for change. We believe this report will create a blueprint for a thriving thoroughbred industry,” NZTR Chairman, Dr Alan Jackson, said of the wide-ranging report handed down by former Racing Australia chairman John Messara, AM, at the request of New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Racing, Winston Peters.
“While our Board has yet to consider the report in detail, the major recommendations are in line with NZTR’s views and it is reassuring to have those policies verified by an independent and expert voice. But implementing the report will still require a considerable amount of work and investment,” Jackson said.
“We need to work with the Government, the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) and the Racing Industry Transition Agency to ensure that this opportunity is not wasted…”
NZTR endorsed the Messara Report recommendation that the NZRB outsources much of the TAB’s commercial operations.
According to Jackson, “The [New Zealand] thoroughbred code, alone, has 16,000 owners, 3700 breeders and 1000 trainers and generates more than 9000 FTE jobs, plus volunteers.”
