Racing: Monday gallops a sure bet

Monday gallops racing is becoming a reality after the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has won the support of its rival codes for a major change to its schedule.

Thoroughbred Racing will be held Monday through Saturday under the amendments, which should take effect from March. There will be racing on Sundays from November to March each season.

Amendments are also made to the running program, disability benefits and the allocation received.

NZTR President Matthew Goodson said New Zealand Racing Board and codes of harness and greyhound gave their blessing to changes in timing and funding.

"This is an important step towards alleviating the financial pressures and provide the feedback from our world-class merits of the thoroughbred industry.

"There is still much to do, but this agreement is an excellent example of the racing codes work together for the greater good of the whole industry," he said.

NZTR longer work meetings with the same number of races in the proposal.

There will also be changes to domestic harness racing, with meetings Tuesday fewer and the race on Sunday. The schedule of greyhound racing are not affected.

To assist and provide certainty of funding, the distribution pattern of the industry has changed, with fixed payments in proportion to each code. Progress payments have been agreed by each code.

The final payment for each code are 69.475 million dollars for NZTR, 37.816 million dollars for NZ Harness Racing and 19.346 million dollars for Greyhound Racing NZ. This is subject to NZRB confirming its profit forecast for 2011/12 final of 135 million.

On a more immediate interest, British trainer Richard Hannon unveiled his team of Goodwood - a veiled concern over Canford Cliffs' taste for a hilly course.

A little over a week ahead of "Duel in the dunes," in which Canford Cliffs is a confrontation with Frankel in the Sussex Stakes, Hannon offer a view in custody of her four years of record when the race descent.

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