Following the abandonment of the Taupo Trials on Tuesday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) acknowledges the frustration caused and accepts the outcome did not meet industry expectations.

NZTR worked with the Taupō Racing Club to identify what went wrong on the day, with findings to inform improved processes going forward.

Taupō Racing Club President Terry Campbell said, “The Club would like to apologise to the racing industry for the cancellation of Tuesday’s trials.” 

“We have identified the issues and will ensure they are addressed ahead of any future meetings,” he said. 

The assessment found that the Track Manager, who is relatively inexperienced, did not receive the level of support and oversight needed to prepare the track. NZTR also identified gaps in its own processes, which failed to provide the Club with adequate operational guidance in the lead-up to the meeting.

Issues with rail placement, grass length, and irrigation planning contributed to the decision to abandon. These areas require specialist knowledge and closer coordination between Clubs and NZTR.

While it is encouraging to see new Racecourse Managers coming into the system, consistent national training and induction processes are lacking. The current reliance on individual Clubs to manage onboarding has led to varying standards.

To address this, NZTR will:

• Increase the involvement of Regional Track Advisors in mentoring new Racecourse Managers;
• Provide Advisors with more time, tools, and resources to support Clubs on-site;
• Establish a working group of Club representatives, Regional Advisors and NZTR staff to strengthen national processes and share best practices.

NZTR Chief Operating Officer Darin Balcombe said, “New Racecourse Managers are difficult to find, and we must provide them with stronger induction, training, and support systems.” 

“Preparing track surfaces for racing is a specialised skill that comes only with experience, support and proper training,” he said. 

NZTR accepts that earlier involvement may have avoided the Taupō outcome. Work is already underway to strengthen support, oversight and accountability across the tracks and infrastructure network.

NZTR is actively undertaking a full formal review with the Taupō Racing Club and Track Advisors and will share the findings as soon as possible.