Wellington function launches new strategy for 2024-25 season

Harness Racing New Zealand’s new “The Future Starts Now” strategy, which came into effect this week, has made its way to the corridors of power, with a special function, hosted by The Minister of Racing, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, at the Beehive.

The evening was organised to strengthen relationships and showcase HRNZ’s new multi-year investment to grow the sport across New Zealand, and featured politicians, and other Wellington-based stakeholders, including the Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), TAB NZ, Entain, and a number of regional harness club presidents.

“Racing leaders have to do more, and like a good racehorse, a pacer or a trotter, they must do it faster,” Mr Peters told the gathering.

“This is a transformational time for racing and it’s time to unleash racing’s potential and set it on aggressive path for growth so racing can contribute much more to the country’s economy.”

HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele and Chair Phil Holden also spoke, with Holden talking of an “exciting watershed moment for the sport” while Steele said the strategy is a “huge opportunity to revitalise fan engagement with harness racing.”

Among its wide-ranging suite of initiatives is a record stakes increase of over $10m for the 2024-25 season, a 20 per cent increase in races, more money for the Sires Stakes’ programme and more opportunities for Trotting and for Fillies and Mares.

Funding for the stakes increases will come from HRNZ, Entain, the NZ Sires’ Stakes Board and TAB NZ.

“We are one year into a five-year deal with Entain. We have jointly found a way forward that benefits everyone in our sport – including owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and punters,” says Steele.

Summary : “The Future Starts Now”

– A record $10m increase in stakes for the 2024/25 season
– 20 per cent increase in the number of races
– The IRT NZ Cup will be worth $1m and the Renwick Farms Dominion $400,000
– Show Day to be a twilight meeting, featuring two new $500,000 slot races for the 3YO Trotters and Pacers
– “The Look North” campaign is all about revitalising racing in Auckland.
– Big increases in stakes for Sires’ Stakes, Trotting, and Fillies and Mares
– The Auckland Cup to go back to New Year’s Eve
– Dual meetings under the Friday Night Lights (FNL) brand every week (mainly at Alexandra Park and Addington)
– 75% of the new funding allocated to everyday racing.
– Weekly lower grade races at Cambridge on a Tuesday
– A new programme at Ashburton on the Thursday of NZ Cup week where maiden and lower-graded horses will have 12 races, each worth $17,500.

The Wellington function completed a four-stop nationwide tour promoting the “Future Starts Now”. It was launched at Addington, before going to Auckland and then to Invercargill.

“We have been delighted with the response to it,” says Steele, “now we have to implement what we have promised to do.”

From Harness Racing New Zealand