The racing calendar for the 2022-23 season has been confirmed, and there are some changes for harness racing in both islands.
“As always it’s a real jigsaw puzzle,” says Harness Racing New Zealand – General Manager Racing Catherine McDonald, “and is the result of months of consultation between us, the TAB, thoroughbreds and the greyhounds.”
The biggest change is that Cromwell will get two new days on February 24 and February 26, 2023. The meetings will be hosted by the Wyndham Trotting Club.
“This is a growing region which is especially popular during the summer and the grass track meetings there are always great events which attract big fields and good turnover,” says McDonald.
These are a trial for 2022/2023 and will be reassessed in the 2023/24 financial season.
Overall there will be 249 harness racing meetings between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023, down five on the current season.
While the Central Districts will retain dates like its two-day meeting at Hawera, the North Island will have four fewer meetings due to the light horse numbers.
Alexandra Park and Cambridge will essentially have alternate weekly meetings, though on occasions that won’t be the case.
“For instance around the big feature meetings at Alexandra Park in May Cambridge will race the night before, to ensure we cater for every class of horse that week” says McDonald.
While there is no change to the number of race days in the Canterbury / Seddon Shields area, Nelson/Marlborough has moved out a week due to the impact of racing based on the day of the week for Christmas Day. This happens every 4 to 5 years.
The South of the Waitaki region has been reduced by one date in accordance with their request not to race heavily during the winter months.
“So racing will cease in Southland at Winton on June 30th and resume early August with Gore at Wyndham.”
For any queries about the racing calendar please contact catherine@hrnz.co.nz
For the final racing calendar 2022-23 click here