Newly appointed New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) chief executive Matt Ballesty has had his feet under the desk for a couple of months now, and he is excited about the challenge of leading the industry into the future.

Ballesty has a background in the entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries, with significant international experience, and the trans-Tasman citizen said they have similar alignment to the horse racing industry.

“I am Aussie-bred, but I am also a Kiwi citizen, and I have been involved in the hospitality/entertainment/tourist sector for 30 years,” Ballesty said.

“My early career was around the New South Wales club industry, which is very similar to the horse racing industry in New Zealand.

“A couple of clubs scattered across the state all with their own real estate and strategic aspirations. Some performed well, some didn’t, and some needed extra support, which eventuated in the amalgamation of lots of clubs in getting that industry on a pathway to sustainability.

“I have worked in publicly listed companies around the world, and I have had different roles in strategy, operations, construction of major developments and master planning. All with a customer-centric focus and delivery of outstanding service to all those involved.”

Thoroughbred racing has always been a major interest for Ballesty, who has raced a number of horses over the years, albeit with limited success.

“Some amazing thought goes into breeding these amazing equine athletes,” he said. “You get dressed up to go to the races, it can be family orientated, it has groups and communities coming together and something that everyone can participate in. There is a lot to like about it.

“I have been a horse owner. I haven’t had a lot of success in that regard, but I love hearing about people who have joined a syndicate, or have a share in a horse, and have gone on to win millions of dollars.

“It is the thrill of the chase and there is so much fun and entertainment around it, and I think that’s where it has got to go to.

“It has got to branch out and be a real entertainment venue, and the utilisation of courses in the off season is something to give thought to for future planning.”

Ballesty has enjoyed acquainting himself with the local industry over the last couple of months and familiarising himself with the current processes in place at the industry’s governing body.

“It has been very exciting to be a part of the transformation that is going to occur over the coming years, everyone has been welcoming and there is a real positive attitude in the industry,” he said.

Ballesty is entering the industry at an exciting time, with the mood buoyant following substantial prizemoney boosts over the last 18 months, aided by TAB NZ’s partnership with Entain, married with several exciting initiatives and infrastructure developments.

While the positive swing in momentum is encouraging, Ballesty said there is now an expectation to build on that and cement the industry’s future in a highly competitive entertainment age.

“The spotlight has been cast upon New Zealand horse racing and the investment is there, but also the expectation to deliver,” he said.

“While it (funding) has been a lifeline, it comes with expectation and responsibility to make change as an industry to make sure we do get things back on track, and the industry is here for decades to come for everyone to enjoy.

“This is a transformation role, it is not an easy ride, and I think that the stakes that are on the line here are so important to the longevity of this industry. I am up for the challenge, and I am not alone, a lot of the team here at NZTR have a very focussed passion and desire to succeed, and that is what we intend to do.”

Ballesty said three major areas of his focus will be tracks, racecourse infrastructure, and future-proofing those assets, and equine welfare.

“One of the areas that is a standout is making sure that our industry has a plan when it comes to our infrastructure around racecourses and where we want to put our money, and efforts into various regions to get the best outcome on all fronts,” he said.

“Another priority for me is horse welfare, social licence and making sure everything we are doing in respect to that is world-class and world-leading. It needs to be a cornerstone strategy of everything that we do to make sure that the people and the horses are prioritised as the number one thing that needs to be supported in the industry.”

While Ballesty said NZTR will be doing its utmost to continue the positive direction of the industry, it needs buy-in from all stakeholders.

“This is a new era for the industry and NZTR have a big role to play, but we need everybody focussed on what is best for the industry,” he said. “It is not one entity that will drive it home, we want to provide strong leadership, and we want to play our part and make sure we are driving that change, and we are being supported.”