A new initiative is being launched by Harness Racing New Zealand to encourage new owners.
Labelled “Next Gen”, the scheme’s ambition is to be a game changer.
“We want people to ‘Own The Thrill’,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele, who’s the architect behind the project.
“We need to get new and younger people involved, convey the excitement of owning and racing a horse, and provide pathways for trainers and others making their way in our sport.”
Total new additional bonuses of up to $600,000 per year will be awarded to the connections of Next Gen horses during their 2YO season.
Critical to the Next Gen scheme are the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka (Auckland) on Saturday, February 15 and at Christchurch on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Horses must be purchased there and then certain criteria have to be met.
Three qualifying criteria :
Sire :
The yearling bought at the above-mentioned NZB sales must be sired by a stallion with his first, second or third New Zealand crop.
In 2025 the Next-Gen eligible yearlings must be sired by :
Bettor’s Wish
King Of Swing
Bird Parker
On A Streak
Zenith Stride
McWicked
Tall Dark Stranger
Bold Eagle
Elite Stride
Propulsion
Timoko
Captain Crunch
Lather Up
Stay Hungry
Face Time Bourbon
Ultimate Sniper
To be Next Gen eligible one of the following criteria also has to be met :
Trainer
No member of the horse’s training partnership can have won a Group 1 Race as of January 1, 2025.
Or
Ownership
Ownership Groups must comprise at least four people, where the horse is owned 30% or more by people who are born after 1984 or have never previously been registered HRNZ owners.
To incentivise owners to get involved there will be lucrative Next Gen bonuses.
Yearlings bought at the sales are eligible for the three Harness Million races – Colts and Geldings, Fillies and Trotters.
A $50,000 bonus ($35,000 will go to the owner, $10,000 to the trainer and $5000 to the breeder) will be awarded to the first Next Gen eligible horse across the line in each of those three races.
A $5000 2YO Second Start bonus ($4000 to the owner, $1000 to the trainer) will also be awarded to any Next Gen eligible horses that have two race day starts during their 2YO season.
To be eligible for the Second Start bonus the yearling must be purchased at the NZB Sales and sired by a Next Gen sire OR it must be a yearling (regardless of sire) purchased at the sales and trained by a non Group 1-winning trainer.
This will be capped at 90 horses, with a total payout of $450,000 per year.
FAQs :
1. How’s Next Gen funded?
HRNZ is very proud to be working alongside partners TAB NZ and NZB Standardbred in fully funding this scheme. Funding has been secured for next 3 years.
2. Who will administer the Next Gen scheme?
It will be run by HRNZ, and they will be responsible for all eligibility enquiries, administration, payments etc. HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden will be the first point of contact for any queries. He is at matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz.
3. Do you need to pre-register for the scheme, and if so, how?
It is preferred to have people pre-register their interest but if you have a bought a yearling you can contact HRNZ after the sale and as long as the eligibility criteria are met you can be part of the Next Gen scheme.
4. Where do you get more information?
The HRNZ website will have a designated Next Gen page and there will be regular updates there and on HRNZ’s social media channels. HRNZ will also be on course at race meetings with an information booth to explain the Next Gen scheme. The dates and locations will be published on the website and social media channels closer to the time.
5. How long are horses involved in Next Gen?
Horses bought at the sales will only be eligible for Next Gen during their 2YO seasons.
6. Do you need to have an ownership group or a trainer in place before you buy a yearling at the sales?
No, you can buy a yearling and then sort out those logistics later. As long as the criteria are met before the horse races you will be Next Gen eligible.
7. How does the eligibility criteria work to get the Harness Million Bonus?
You have to meet two of the criteria. You must buy a yearling from the sales from an eligible sire and then you have to met one of the other two criteria, either through the ownership group or by using a non Group 1-winning trainer.
8. How can you tell if a horse is Next Gen eligible?
At the sales all Next Gen eligible horses will have a special sticker on them alerting prospective buyers. NZB will also make people aware at the time the horse goes through the sales ring.
9. What does success look like for this scheme?
We want to see people getting enthused about new ownership and racing opportunities in our sport and we want yearling buyers to place their horses with emerging trainers. From an ownership and training perspective it’s all about widening the net and providing more opportunities for everyone.
10. Is this a one off and can you imagine the scheme will become a regular feature of the NZB Sales?
Our intention is for it to become a long term scheme that will see new owners get involved in the sport. As mentioned funding has been secured for next three years. We think the scheme has real potential and that 2025 will be the start of something very positive for the sport.
