Key strategic changes across the two equine codes headline the 2024-25 New Zealand racing calendar released on Wednesday.
Following on from a strategic partnership between TAB NZ and Entain Australia and New Zealand that commenced in June last year, the two organisations and three racing codes in New Zealand have taken the opportunity to revamp the calendar.
Next season's calendar features include:
- An increase of 27 Sunday meetings for thoroughbred racing, including 14 double thoroughbred meetings on Sundays.
- A revamped thoroughbred summer feature calendar (previously announced in January).
- 46 extra harness racing licences for the 2024/25 season, with 36 extra meetings on a Tuesday to be run for lower stakes.
- Addington and Alexandra Park to be run on Friday nights together on 35 occasions next season, and more harness racing in the North Island.
- Greyhound Racing New Zealand's race meetings are largely a rollover of the current season's scheduling with 407 race meetings planned.
Nick Roberts, Chair of the TAB NZ Dates Committee, said that with minimum guaranteed funding for five years under the strategic partnership, the time to deliver change is now.
“This is the inaugural racing calendar established under the industry's new operating model, with representatives of TAB NZ, Entain, and the three racing codes working collaboratively towards an optimised calendar,” Roberts said.
“We already saw the success of some changes to the summer feature calendar this year, and we're really pleased with the natural flow that has been created for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's feature racing next summer, leading up to The NZB Kiwi in early March.”
The Dates Committee incorporated new guiding principles aimed at fostering the growth of New Zealand racing and expanding the strategic partnership's wagering customer base. The new calendar balances various factors, including club interests, the operational capabilities of Entain's broadcasting and on-course facilities, a revitalised racing pattern, venue use, and the pursuit of new revenue opportunities.
The 995 meetings in the 2024/25 season will be made up of 300 thoroughbred meetings, 288 harness meetings and 407 greyhound meetings with 10,291 individual races to be run. This is an increase of 27 scheduled race meetings and 394 scheduled races against the current season.