Conference blamed for loss of TV coverage of races

Press, 15 December 1983, Page 36

Conference blamed for loss of TV coverage of races

PA Auckland The Auckland Trotting Club yesterday blamed the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference for the loss of live television coverage of forthcoming major races at Alexandra Park. The club decided not to allow telecasts of the New Zealand Messenger on December 29 and the Auckland Trotting Cup on February 3 following a conference ruling on fees received from Television New Zealand. The club’s president, Mr Ron Robertson, stressed that the club had no argument with television as such but resented the attitude of the conference.

The Trotting Conference executive announced yesterday that television fees would be shared equally by the conference and the club concerned. Mr Robertson denied that the decision to split the fees equally between the clubs and conference had been agreed following consultations between the conferance and the Auckland and Metropolitan clubs. “There were no such consultations — with us, anyway,” he said. The club had discussed the situation with the president of the conference, Mr Dewar Robertshaw, who was prepared to negotiate on the matter so that the

Messenger and the Auckland Trotting Cup could be televised live. Mr Robertson said there was no agreement to change the established policy of fees being paid to a club which had live telecasts of races. “All we want,” said Mr Robertson, “is recognition of the fact that a club should be compensated for a possible downturn in attendance and other course revenue. “We are still prepared to allow live television coverage of major races at Alexandra Park,” said Mr Robertson, “but not if the fees, or part of them, are given to the conference.”