Passion to the Fore During Festive Season

Media Release - Tuesday December 24

While holidaymakers are relaxing around the country, the Christmas-New Year period is one of the busiest for the thoroughbred racing industry.

The horse is always top of mind for people who work in the thoroughbred industry. Photo: Sharon ChapmanFrom Boxing Day through to Sunday 5 January there will be 20 thoroughbred race meetings around New Zealand, meaning a busy time for those who work in the industry.

There are no rest days for those who care for the 4800 horses in training in New Zealand, and leading trainer Jamie Richards outlined the passion and dedication that goes in behind getting a horse to the races over the festive season.

“Our team completely understands this is an incredibly important part of the season for us when many of our most talented horses are racing,” Richards said.

“Our people are there on Christmas morning as we still train all of our horses; they are there on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, all of the public holidays – in fact every day, always putting our horses first.

“They never miss a beat and ensure that our horses are top of mind when many people are thinking about parties, sea, sand and holidays – all we are thinking about are our horses, just like every other day of the year, rain, hail or shine.”

An Australian-based protest group would have the public believe these horses are mistreated and forced to race. Nothing could be further from the truth according to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief executive Bernard Saundry.

“The welfare of our horses is paramount, and we are fortunate to have dedicated people whose sole focus is ensuring the horses in their care want for nothing,” he said. 

“It is quite telling that the Australian-based protest group, which has been most vocal about the treatment of our horses, did not make a submission when our thoroughbred welfare guidelines were open for comment earlier this year.

“It is unfortunate that a group which is supposedly concerned with welfare prefers to spread misinformation.

“We hope that those who take the time to relax with friends and family at one of the many summer race meetings over the holiday period judge for themselves the level of care our wonderful equine athletes receive.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.