The New Racing Season 2022

[Double R]

HRNZ are pleased to release the 2022 January to December racing programme to you today. The process started back in April when we proposed changing the horses official birthday to January 1st. This was approved by all clubs on May 27th.   HRNZ are pleased to release the 2022 January to December racing programme to you today. The process started back in April when we proposed changing the horses official birthday to January 1st. This was approved by all clubs on May 27th. HRNZ brought together an architect team to work through the Group, Listed and Feature races to see how we could reconfigure our racing programme to reinvigorate Harness Racing, as well as looking at the grass roots - those horses who week in and week out provide consistent racing and a return to our industry. We have also been mindful of the lack of numbers at certain levels of horses and have tried to group these to race together in the carnivals to attract fuller fields and a better return. Please find all supporting documents below as well as some key points: Group Racing Draft Schedule 2022 Group Racing Draft Schedule 2022 - Age Groups Proposed - Country Championship Qualifying Races Country Championship (Easter Cup) - information Regional Ratings Days - visual chart Country Championship - visual chart Rated At The Time Of Series (RATTOS) - concept document We believe we have put forward some exciting events to help reinvigorate Harness Racing with the likes of: The 6 race Harness Million 3YO series in February in Auckland. The Autumn Carnival in the North Island starting with "The Race" for non HRNZ Funded $500,000 at Cambridge finishing with the $400,000 Auckland Cup and $250,000 Rowe Cup together in May. We believe this will attract Australian interest and fits neatly between their Miracle Mile and Rising Sun Carnivals. Horses can fly into Auckland and directly out to Brisbane. We are hoping this will lead to an annual mini-interdominion series in the North Island to attract export income as well as create domestic interest in our racing. Starting with Ashburton at Labour Weekend and finishing in Invercargill in December we have created a Spring Carnival with the major racing in between these two meetings at Kaikoura and Addington. Addington will start with Cup Day which will now have the 2YO C&G Sires Stakes final with the 3YO C&G final moving to Addington in May from 2023, the Nevele R 3YO Fillies Final and a standing start Group 3 Open class Trotters race as a lead up to the Dominion which will remain on Show Day. Show Day will also host the Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies and Trotters finals. Move to early December (day to be agreed with TAB) and we have our super hybrid Jewels Day which will have 4 x $100,000 2YO races (both gaits and both sexes), NZ Derby for both gaits and the NZ Pacing Oaks. The NZ Trotting Oaks is the week before. It will also include the Group 1 Trotters FFA moved from Cup Day and a Group 3 Open Pace. Then we want our open class horses to head to Invercargill for the $100,000 Invercargill Cup and a $30,000 Group 3 Open Trot. This then leads into our ongoing successful Summer racing circuit throughout Southland, Central Otago, Canterbury and Seddons' Shields areas. In addition to this we have created a Country Cup Championship with increased stakes for all Cups and a $100,000 final at Addington at Easter to replace the Easter Cup. This is for 4YO and older horses at the intermediate grade with qualifying conditions. Also on this day will be 6 x $30,000 ratings finals (4 pacing and 2 trotting) for horses HRNZ brought together an architect team to work through the Group, Listed and Feature races to see how we could reconfigure our racing programme to reinvigorate Harness Racing, as well as looking at the grass roots - those horses who week in and week out provide consistent racing and a return to our industry. We have also been mindful of the lack of numbers at certain levels of horses and have tried to group these to race together in the carnivals to attract fuller fields and a better return. Please find all supporting documents below as well as some key points: Group Racing Draft Schedule 2022 Group Racing Draft Schedule 2022 - Age Groups Proposed - Country Championship Qualifying Races Country Championship (Easter Cup) - information Regional Ratings Days - visual chart Country Championship - visual chart Rated At The Time Of Series (RATTOS) - concept document We believe we have put forward some exciting events to help reinvigorate Harness Racing with the likes of: The 6 race Harness Million 3YO series in February in Auckland. The Autumn Carnival in the North Island starting with "The Race" for non HRNZ Funded $500,000 at Cambridge finishing with the $400,000 Auckland Cup and $250,000 Rowe Cup together in May. We believe this will attract Australian interest and fits neatly between their Miracle Mile and Rising Sun Carnivals. Horses can fly into Auckland and directly out to Brisbane. We are hoping this will lead to an annual mini-interdominion series in the North Island to attract export income as well as create domestic interest in our racing. Starting with Ashburton at Labour Weekend and finishing in Invercargill in December we have created a Spring Carnival with the major racing in between these two meetings at Kaikoura and Addington. Addington will start with Cup Day which will now have the 2YO C&G Sires Stakes final with the 3YO C&G final moving to Addington in May from 2023, the Nevele R 3YO Fillies Final and a standing start Group 3 Open class Trotters race as a lead up to the Dominion which will remain on Show Day. Show Day will also host the Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies and Trotters finals. Move to early December (day to be agreed with TAB) and we have our super hybrid Jewels Day which will have 4 x $100,000 2YO races (both gaits and both sexes), NZ Derby for both gaits and the NZ Pacing Oaks. The NZ Trotting Oaks is the week before. It will also include the Group 1 Trotters FFA moved from Cup Day and a Group 3 Open Pace. Then we want our open class horses to head to Invercargill for the $100,000 Invercargill Cup and a $30,000 Group 3 Open Trot. This then leads into our ongoing successful Summer racing circuit throughout Southland, Central Otago, Canterbury and Seddons' Shields areas. In addition to this we have created a Country Cup Championship with increased stakes for all Cups and a $100,000 final at Addington at Easter to replace the Easter Cup. This is for 4YO and older horses at the intermediate grade with qualifying conditions. Also on this day will be 6 x $30,000 ratings finals (4 pacing and 2 trotting) for horses   Home     |    Racing    |    InfoHorse    |    HRNZ    |    Contact Harness Racing New Zealand Inc. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Double R]

30 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

This looks excellent. So Jewels is still on & at Addington looks like it is JUST for 2 y-os tho. BUT a seperate race for boys & girls trotters. Thats great for them! And later in year in Dec. So more will be up and ready to race.

Love this Country Cup $100k final and more than 30 Country Cup races.

A $500k race at Cambridge. Did I read that right? Wow.

Yes, you did read that right Karrots. A $500,000 race on the 14th of April, at Cambridge, for open class pacers.

[Happy Sunrise]

4 hours ago, Double R said:

A $500,000 race on the 14th of April

Who pays for this? It is different isn't it.

[Double R]

4 minutes ago, Happy Sunrise said:

Who pays for this? It is different isn't it.

Yes, I noticed that Happy, as it stated it is not HRNZ funded.

[Happy Sunrise]

3 minutes ago, Double R said:

Yes, I noticed that Happy, as it stated it is not HRNZ funded.

So owners pay to enter?

This may seem like a great idea but with the domination of one stable it may not work. Why fund Self Assured or SCA?

Country Cups with a 100K final at Addington will disadvantage the grass trackers.

[Double R]

The details will be interesting on that one for sure.

I wouldn't have thought there would be that many open class horses around to self fund the event through entry fees.

[Globederby19]

4 minutes ago, Double R said:

The details will be interesting on that one for sure.

I wouldn't have thought there would be that many open class horses around to self fund the event through entry fees.

That's like a Melbourne Cup sweepstake . $10 bucks ,in winner takes all. Pointless.

Cannot see to many Aussies running in a self funded race, it costs them enough to get here as it is, along with this Covid nonsense.

Strange wording to say the least. 

Give them their due,at least they have made an attempt.

[Field Commander]

1 hour ago, Globederby19 said:

That's like a Melbourne Cup sweepstake . $10 bucks ,in winner takes all. Pointless.

TAB to Sell 100,000 tickets @ $5 each.

Winning ticket holders to negotiate their % of stake money earned with owners of potential entrants.

Call it the Pirongia?

Edited October 28, 2021 by Field Commander
Afterthought

[Mike]

7 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

The Country Cup qualifiers look like majority are $20k. 

Well Karrots LIKES this ALOT. WELL DONE HRNZ & those that pitched in and HELPED.

I know everyone will have their own thoughts and opinions on it. But mine are this is what was needed and a step in the right direction. 

If you look at all like her Karrots ring me

Mike

[Rusty]

3 hours ago, Happy Sunrise said:

Country Cups with a 100K final at Addington will disadvantage the grass trackers.

That was my immediate thought too. 

Should be held at Riccarton. 

[Double R]

19 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

This has been confirmed but its $900k now. A minimum buy in of 3 years @ $75k each. As per the Boxseat announcement. Think they said NZ now richest race. 

I am sure it will rely on Australian open class horses to make the race interesting. I feel we don't have the depth in our horses alone, to do the race justice.

[Happy Sunrise]

3 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

TAB have opened up a futures market for it already - THE RACE - Copy That fav, they have Expensive Ego down as a potential Aussie runner.

Guerin the product marketer was all for it on the box seat but the punter inside him was crying 'who the hell would bet into the market'

Since it is a PBD, I wonder if the 'marker pegs' theory will be put on the back burner for this race.

[Double R]

32 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

The only thing prob would of changed is drop winner stake down $10k from $400k to $390k. And put up 4th place from $65k to 75k. That way 4th which isn't a bad effort, costs start is covered oppose losing 10k. 

Be great if they introduced a 24 or 48 hour retention barn for The Race.

Regardless whether the 4th Stake is $65k or 75k, the owner/s are going to drop $10k, having to payout the trainer, and driving percentages.

[Double R]

11 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

True good point. So is that the same as 5th to 10th too? 

Guerin said something along lines of connections & slot sponsors could negotiate amongst themselves re how much each party takes prize eg for the win. Eg 50/50 or 60/40. Suppose something could be negotiate prior for 4th too? Or no as slot sponsor already put up $75k hey. Dunno how would you see that work? Ownes as you say. 

Perhaps the team here on Race Place could empty their "piggy banks", and we could buy a slot????

I am not sure what the negotiation procedure is, but it will be interesting. Karrots, you could do it on our behalf?

The $900,000 stake will be divided up $400,000 to the winner, $125,000 for second, $85,000 third, $65,000 for fourth and the remaining six starters each getting $37,500.

The race will be a 2200m mobile with preferential draws for three-year-olds then mares before older male pacers are drawn to make the race potentially attractive to horses like Bettor Twist and even Akuta.

The initial idea of a $500,000 slot race with 10 slots of $50,000 was really more of a sweepstake race, with HRNZ reluctant to put any extra industry funds into it as they target other areas they believe need that money more.

So the extra $150,000 for the Waikato-BOP club is the creme on top with the promise of more for slot holders who buy in for three years.

[Mike]

58 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

Haha, just trying to figure this out, @Mike is pretty good at Math but as you say, 10% owners have to pay out for trainer/driver fee. So 4th is not the finishing spot you want right?

As while the sponsor gets majority of their cash back ($65k out of $75k put up), but then, the owners then need to pay out 10% of $65k for 4th oppose 10% of $37,500k which is 5th-10th.

Is that right? So owners are worst off for running 4th over last? Surely not …

No, it's not right Karrots

I don't think you grasp who gets the $ from a slot race

It isn't the Owner unless they are also the slot holder, or unless they have done a deal with the slot holder

I'll explain further and better later if you can't figure it out, just a bit busy atm

Mike

[Mike]

3 hours ago, Double R said:

Regardless whether the 4th Stake is $65k or 75k, the owner/s are going to drop $10k, having to payout the trainer, and driving percentages.

Isn't it the slot holder DR, not the Owners (unless on a deal)

Mike

Edited December 22, 2021 by Mike

[Double R]

38 minutes ago, Mike said:

Isn't it the slot holder JJ, not the Owners (unless on a deal)

Mike

I am not sure Mike. One way or the other the trainer and driver will want their percentage.

[pete]

9 minutes ago, karrotsishere said:

Wait JJ, is JJ here?

Hi JJ if so 😄

Don't think so.

[Mike]

1 hour ago, karrotsishere said:

Wait JJ, is JJ here?

Hi JJ if so 😄

Settle down

Typo

Don't encourage them

Edited December 22, 2021 by Mike

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Double R said:

I am not sure Mike. One way or the other the trainer and driver will want their percentage.

OK DR, I'm sure

The slotholder gets the $ 

Split with the Owner if on a deal

Of course the Fees have to be paid

But Karrots was off beam thinking that $65k less fees was somehow less than $37500 if you reread her post

Mike

[Mike]

16 hours ago, karrotsishere said:

1 thing do agree with Guerin tho, that he said on Boxseat, is that if some peeps that are often negative about everything anyway, - so in a general negative person. Anyway if they have a moan about - The Race - oppose being excited about it, then perhaps its time they weren't in the industry.

After all he mentioned its not costing them nor the industry anything as

Slot holders pay the bulk $750k & the host has topped it up $150k = $900k.

Agree, at least they are trying something

The $150k that the Club is topping up is significant as there is no way that betting revenue will come anywhere near that cost

So I can only assume that the publicity and rub-off effect is what they are aiming at

The Club's CEO is very good financially, with a working background in harness, so I'm sure that he has done the numbers

I do worry about a possible dominance of a superstar

For example when Lazarus was here at his peak how would you feel about having paid $75k a year or 2 previous to "enter" another horse?

Mike