The New Zealand Racing Board has released its 2015/16 racing calendar with a focus on delivering better value to the community and the wider racing industry.
Monetising the calendar is a key strategic focus over the coming year, and the NZ Racing Board is working closely with the Greyhound, Thoroughbred and Harness Codes on further shaping the calendar to maximise the potential from race meetings.
Harness Racing New Zealand has decided to consolidate in a bid to increase field sizes and improve the quality of racing. A total of four race meetings and 59 races have been removed from the 2015/16 season and the Auckland Trotting Cup has moved back to New Years Eve.
The number of Greyhound and Thoroughbred races is largely unchanged. Two of Thoroughbred's marquee races, the Auckland Cup and the Karaka Million, have moved dates in the calendar in an initiative that will improve community and industry attendance.
The 2015/16 calendar, comprising 1,060 meetings and 10,877 races across the three racing Codes, has been devised to optimise returns to the industry while recognising specific requirements for racing to reflect the importance of community engagement and alignment with international meetings.
Following is a summary of the key dates, features and changes to the 2015/16 racing calendar:
Thoroughbred Spring Racing commences at Hastings on Saturday 29 August 2015 with the first day of the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival
New Zealand Cup and Show Week in Christchurch will run from November 7- 14 2015
Auckland Trotting Cup returns to 31December 2015 (from first week of March)
Karaka Million Twilight Racing is on January 24 2016
Wellington Cup Day will be held on January 30 2016
Auckland Cup Week runs from March 5to March 12 2016
The Harness Jewels take place at Cambridge on June 4 2016
Printed 2015/16 racing calendar booklets will be available free from TAB retail outlets from mid-July.
Kate Gourdie
New Zealand Racing Board