The Trots

Merv Butterworth’s Gracious Response to the HRNZ Balls Up That Kicked Copy That Out of Friday’s Race

by : peterprofitracing
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Hi Guys,

It looks like I now have to fight Qantas for a refund for my planned trip to Auckland Friday night.

HRNZ in their mysterious way of thinking advised that it ‘is not in our interests to have the best horse racing’ so leave Copy That out of the field.

The attached story tells all.

https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/ray-in-hospital-undergoing-surgery-after-being-kicked-copy-that-eliminated-too/

I am more than inclined to bring Copy That to Melbourne to race in the Group 1 $100,000 Cranbourne Cup on 17 December that Meg and I sponsor and have done so for 15 years. If HRNZ believe it is in the interests of the fans of Harness Racing in NZ to deny a start to the best horse, I am sure that the Australian Harness Racing Industry would invite Copy That to grace their clubs and races.

We have race clubs clamouring to find when our great galloper Sharp N Smart will next race and if we will consider their club for his racing program ranging from Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

Can you imagine a race club denying Phar Lap or Cardigan Bay a start in an eligible race because ‘They were too good’?

The reality in this Copy That story is that HRNZ said if Copy That were to start, it would have a negative impact on betting turnover as the reason/excuse and that it would attract more betting turnover if they constructed a field of lesser horses.

HRNZ management are on record to try and find more horses to race in NZ and to improve the image of racing. No wonder the above story is part and parcel why so many horses depart NZ for Australian racing where it is so much harder to win but are faced with a more common sense form of race programming. The handicapping of owners that have occurred today simply does not occur.

To change race conditions after they have been published and after nominations have been advertised is simply a bad form mark against HRNZ who have agreed that is a ‘best practice’. How can this be so?

Australia, in their defence, do have race secretaries and management that actively pursue trainers to nominate horses for races which is in contrast to todays actions by HRNZ management.

My wife Meg and I enjoy visiting and racing at Auckland Alexandra Park where we have a great band of friends. Racing Copy That provides so much satisfaction to so many people when he performs at his top. This means more to us than the prize money although stake money is also highly welcome.

Good luck to all and many thanks.

Merv Butterworth

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