Harness Racing New Zealand is inviting feedback from clubs and kindred bodies on the first draft of the 2025/26 Dates Calendar.
The calendar features a proposed total of 300 meetings, an increase of 11 over the current season, with the upper South Island getting nine new meetings and the North Island two more.
The additional dates are not funded at this time. The Code Funding negotiations are underway.
The number of meetings in the southern area remains unchanged, though Southern Harness will host 33 Sunday meetings, 13 more than at present.
Addington will also see some big changes. There will be eight new lower grade midweek meetings on a Wednesday, the Rangiora meeting on the Friday before Cup Week will become a permanent Addington meeting as part of a re-shaping of Cup week, and the two premier meetings in late November and early December are to be replaced with one new premier meeting on the Friday after Show Day.
The programme on that day will include The Christian Cullen 4YO Pace, and the Pacing and Trotting New Zealand Oaks and Derby.
The four Group 1 2YO Aces programmed on the first Friday of December at Addington will not be held, with the $400,000 of funding re-allocated.
HRNZ is conducting a review of racing in the lower North Island including the distribution of meetings. In part this was triggered by two events the first being weak turnovers this year and also NZTR’s request to race the Wellington Cup premier meeting on the last Saturday of January, traditionally Hawera’s weekend. Trackside cannot service both venues over three days.
As already announced Auckland’s Anniversary Day meeting in January will be held on the grass at Taupo, with HRNZ seeking more upper North Island grass track meetings.
Submissions should be directed to Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden – matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz
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