HRNZ appoint a new Head of Racing and Wagering

Harness Racing New Zealand is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Peden as its Head of Racing and Wagering.

Peden comes to HRNZ after five years as a racing bookmaker in this country, with the TAB and more recently Entain.

“We had a high number and calibre of applicants to work our way through,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele, “but Matt’s experience and passion for harness, especially around wagering, was compelling. He is also someone plenty of people in harness racing will know and respect.”

“The job really appealed to me, the combination of racing and wagering really brings together my two areas of passion and knowledge,” says Peden.

“I am keen to look at things from a different angle,” says Peden, “we need to disrupt the status quo and what better time to join the organisation than with (IRT NZ) Cup week just around the corner.”

He has three key areas where he wants to make progress.

“We need to increase race starts per horse per year, we need to increase market share and turnover and we need to do something about foal numbers.”

Originally from Sydney, Peden is a “harness man through and through”.

He moved to Wellington in 2019 to take up his new job at the TAB before moving to Christchurch, where he now lives.

He has shares in “seven or eight” horses at the moment, including being part of a high-profile ownership group that race rising star Bet N Win.

Peden will take up his new job from October 1.

“I can’t wait,” says Peden.

For Steele the appointment is a key one, just five or so weeks after he took up the top job.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Matt and the rest of the management team, some exciting times are ahead,” says Steele.

From Harness Racing New Zealand