Interdoms Shift To Auckland After Quake

This year's InterDominions have been transferred from Christchurch's Addington Raceway to Auckland's Alexandra Park in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (The Met) made the decision to move the event, which starts on March 25 and runs until April 8, after talks with Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and the Auckland Trotting Club.

"Everyone involved in the decision making was aware of the difficulties in moving the series," HRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell said.

"We are acutely aware of the human suffering and the impact this tragedy has had on all New Zealanders. While every endeavour has been made to retain the series in Christchurch, unfortunately with the state of the city and the repairs required to Addington Raceway, this is not feasible."

The Met chairman David Rankin said an engineering report revealed the public stand at Addington had some structural issues which could not be fixed in time for the event while there was also less significant damage to the Metropolitan Stand.

"The transfer to Auckland will to a large degree mitigate our financial losses. The Auckland Trotting Club, not wanting to take advantage of our plight, are allowing us to be there as a "tenant club" with no rental and contributing other net revenues to us as their way of supporting harness racing in Canterbury and the financial turmoil the earthquakes have created for us in Christchurch," he said.

"Practically, there was no other decision available to us, but nevertheless we feel strongly for the Canterbury trainers, drivers, owners, our members and the public who were looking forward to this event in Christchurch and gave us every encouragement to continue at all costs.

"The Met has had two very tough years financially and the financial implications of the business downturn and the earthquakes have needed careful management."

Some Australian trainers had threatened to turn their backs on the InterDominions if they were held in Christchurch.

The stakes for the pacers' final has been reduced to $NZ800,000 to ensure the viability of the event, while all the other races kept their existing purses.

Revised conditions for the series will be released on Thursday.

Other feature races such as the New Zealand Derby will be retained in Christchurch and raced on alternative dates yet to be determined.