Kennards’ sponsor Show Day Futurity

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NEW SPONSOR AND STAKE ANNOUNCED FOR SHOW DAY FUTURITY September 9, 2013

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is pleased to announce that the Show Day Futurity Mobile Pace to be held on Canterbury Anniversary Day, Friday, November 15, will be sponsored by harness racing enthusiasts Glenys and Philip Kennard.

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Top Aust. horses to be Jewels invitees

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TOP AUST. HORSES TO BE INVITED
Hrnz logoIn a change to the conditions of the Harness Jewels, the Board of HRNZ has agreed to extend an invitation to a leading Australian horse in each age group category.

The field size for each race will be extended to thirteen should the Australian horses take up this invitation. It is believed this will grow an interest in the Harness Jewels in Australia and further enhance the profile of this event which has become a key event in the racing calendar each year.

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New Zealand Cup nominations

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ROAD TO THE CUP 2013 Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup – Nominations August 30, 2013.

(Courtesy of Candice Van Dyk,  Marketing and Communications Manager , Harness Racing New Zealand)

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc. – Addington Racway – Tuesday 12th November 2013 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup – Stakes $650,000 (Including $300,000 subsidy from HRNZ)

The 37 Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup nominations received by NZ Metropolitan TC officials wet the appetite for what promises to be an exciting and intriguing build-up to the great race on the second Tuesday in November.

Of the 37 nominations received, 7 are from Australia.

NZ TAB Bookmakers will release their initial market on Monday 2nd September. The first rankings will be released on Wednesday 4th September. 2012 victor Terror to Love will head those rankings.

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Mob. 1950m starts preferred

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ADDINGTON MOBILE 1950m PREFERRED

August 29, 2013

After consultation over a number of weeks with trainers, drivers, stipendiary stewards and Addington’s starter, there has been an overwhelming response to revert back to the sprint distance of the 1950-metre mobile starting point.

Start cup day 2010 145At a meeting on May 15, Canterbury horsemen instigated a request to Addington that 2000-metre mobile starts be trialled for a period of time.

Photo: Just under way from the 2000m or 3200m start point at Addington. The mobile 1950m start point is now the favoured option.

Having trialled the 2000-metre mobile start from mid-June over a number of races and feedback considered from harness participants and officials on this experiment, the majority of future races will be held over 1950 metres from behind the mobile gate.

This will take effect from the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s next meeting at Addington on Friday September 6. Mobile 2600m events will continue as usual.

The following race meeting, Canterbury Breeders and Owners Night on Friday September 13, will see a track grid draw for races conducted over one mile mobile starts instigated.

The preferential draw grid to be used is as follows:

1-2-3-7-8-4-9-5-10-6 with the least tightly assessed runner to the most tightly assessed runner based on wins and earnings drawn in that order. Six horses will start from the front line and four from the second line in a capacity field of 10. Details can be found under the section Race Programmes at www.hrnz.co.nz

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Brian Rabbitt or Richard Bromley at Addington’s Racing Department on (03) 338 9094.

Courtesy of Ged Mooar
Marketing & Commercial Manager
Addington Raceway

Canty owners/breeders night, Sept 13

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CANTY OWNER & BREEDERS NIGHT, SEPT. 13

Addington Raceway logoCanterbury Breeders & Owners Night will take place at Addington on Friday, September 13.

Traditionally, the night has been supported and sponsored by the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association (CSBA) with this year being the first time that the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ Association (CTOA) are taking part.

Addington’s Marketing & Commercial Manager Ged Mooar is thrilled to have both organisations involved on the night. “It makes sense that Addington has these two important industry associations jointly promoting and sponsoring as they go hand in hand with each other. It’s great that we can all work together successfully for the betterment of harness racing.”

John Mooney, chairman of the CSBA, welcomed this initiative.

“For a long time we have wanted to work more closely with the owners associations in Canterbury and nationally. I thank Barry Dent and his fellow committee members for their leadership. This will be a good night celebrating the start of the breeding season.”

John said he and Barry were looking forward to organising a joint awards night at the end of this season. They are hoping the licence holders will join them to reward and recognise people and achievements across the sport.

The CTOA will provide an additional prize of $1000 in total to the owner/s of the confirmed winner of each totalisator race on the programme.

A cheque will be forwarded from the CTOA to the financial contact for each horse that wins, and in the event of a dead-heat the $1000 will be apportioned equally.

In addition, $1000 will be provided for a Trainer’s Draw. All trainers who have a horse/s starting on the night will be eligible to take part in the draw which will take place later on the programme, with the winner announced on the night to receive $1000. The number of starters each trainer has on the night will not attract additional entries in the draw, so one entry per trainer.

“The CTOA are delighted to be involved with this initiative which will provide an extra prize to the winning owners. We know the real costs of standardbred ownership and this will ensure some of those costs are able to be recovered by winning on the night.”

“We also know the real benefit to the industry of having full fields for every race so owners need to get behind this initiative and set their horse/s to race on the night. In addition we have not left the trainers out so you should ensure your owners’ horses are ready to and do race that night” said Barry Dent, the President of the CTOA.

Addington thanks both the CSBA and the CTOA for their valuable support and with promotions taking place throughout the evening, together with great harness action on the track, racing at Addington on September 13 looks a sure bet for a good night out.

Courtesy of Ged Mooar
Marketing & Commercial Manager
Addington

Addington leads way with breeders bonus

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ADDINGTON LEADS WAY WITH BREEDERS’ BONUSES

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Addington Raceway logoThe New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is delighted to announce a new breeders bonus scheme for members of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association (NZSBA).

Breeders have long been asking for bonuses and we are pleased to be in the position to respond positively to this request. The NZSBA is a driving force for breeders accordingly the NZMTC decided to partner with them to reward their members efforts in breeding a winning racehorse.

The scheme which starts on 1st January 2014, is open to any member of the NZSBA who breeds the winner of a totalisator race at an NZMTC meeting, held at Addington Raceway. They will be eligible for a $500 bonus payment.

NZMTC Chairman David Rankin said: “It is hugely important we promote and incentivise the breeding of standardbred horses when we get the opportunity. Without breeding we will not have the horses to race, so we are showing our support in a tangible manner to provide breeders encouragement as we get closer to the new breeding season. We are thrilled to partner the NZSBA, who do so much to promote breeding and racing throughout the country, with this incentive.”

John Mooney, NZSBA Chairman added: “NZSBA is delighted with this new initiative to breeders. The NZMTC is to be congratulated for recognising the contribution of our members to harness racing. The $500 bonus is a significant sum. I am hoping that other clubs follow suit.”

“Linking the bonus to NZSBA membership is excellent. Last season almost 40% of races were won by members of NZSBA. This will encourage greater membership if the association.”

Full terms and conditions are available at www.addington.co.nz or www.harnessracing.co.nz

Courtesy of Ged Mooar, Addington/Kiely Buttell, NZ Standardbred Breeders Assn

Jellignite a $100k earner

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(MY) JELLIGNITE TOPS $100K IN AUS

 

Former Mark Jones pacer Jellignite has joined the $100,000 earning club with his latest Australian racing in Queensland.

Jellignite (Courage Under Fire-Badjelly The Wytch) and younger brother Badjellys Courage, are both now racing in Queensland after starting their Australian careers in New South Wales.

Jellignite, who has a 1:52.4 best winning mile at Menangle, NSW, recorded a more leisurely 1:55.6 for the 1609m for a first-up Queensland victory at Parklands (Gold Coast) on July 19.

This was his 13th win from 57 starts, while he ticked over the $100k total with a subsequent second at Albion Park on August  3. His career earnings now stand at $A100,689.

Badjellys Courage has also been in good touch, winning his second and third Queensland starts.

He backed up a game Gold Coast mile win, after racing in the open to score in 2:01.1 at Parklands on July 25, with a repeat win at Redcliffe on August 2.

Badjellys Courage rated 1:59.9 for the 1780m in the latter, around the tight Redcliffe circuit to notch his fifth win from 21 starts for $A22,646.

Both pacers were bred by Pat Campbell, who sent them to Australia for more suitable racing opportunities.

 

Stakes boost for industry

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HRNZ ANNOUNCES $1.5M STAKES BOOST

Media Release

31 July 2013

$1.5 million additional stakes for harness racing industry

At the annual harness racing conference held over the weekend in Christchurch it was announced that an additional 1.5 million will be injected into stake money for the harness racing industry over the coming season.

An additional $1.5 million will be distributed to clubs for the 2013/14 season which is an increase of 5% on the 2012/13 season. While the Board did consider a number of options for the utilisation of this additional funding, including the introduction of payments to all starters and other participation initiatives, it was felt clubs were in the best position to make such determinations as they saw fit within their overall stakes policies. HRNZ has encouraged clubs to give consideration within their stakes policy to incentives they consider appropriate that will foster increased participation and field sizes. The additional funding being extended to the industry has been possible from the extra funding extended from the NZRB and utilisation of the balance within the code’s distribution account.

HRNZ also announced that it will cover the full cost of HRNZ’s DNA/bloodtyping income for foals born in the 2013/14 season. This is estimated to cost $220,000 for the 2013/14 season, providing a direct saving of $110 per horse for breeders. The Board believed that this is a small signal to breeders that HRNZ is conscious of the costs facing this sector of the industry and is attempting to reduce costs where possible.

Chairman of HRNZ Gary Allen said “from an industry perspective that is welcome news and highlights an encouraging outlook for harness racing’s future. With stakes being up 5.1% in the current season and the additional funding that has been made available by the NZRB in 2013/14 and hopefully in subsequent years, the platform for growth for the industry is solid.”

Candice Van Dyk
Marketing & Communication Manager 

Holme Fire second in Mot. workout

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HOLME FIRE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT 

 

Last season’s smart 3YO filly Holme Fire showed improvement with a second to the in-form El Fuego in the 1-win and faster mobile 2200m heat at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, July 27.

“She hadn’t raced for a year but she went terrible second-up. She wouldn’t win a maiden the way she went the other day,” said trainer Mark Jones.

“That was a bit better today. She might just have a few more runs here and we might send her to Aussie _ I’ll just have to see how she’s graded over there,” he said.

Holme Fire showed good gate speed to lead up, was clear turning for home, but trailer El Fuego (Nigel McGrath) was too slick in the run home, coming clear by 1 1/4  lengths in 2:47.4.

Workoutfire mkdThe leaders had the speed on over their last 800m in 57.1s and final 400m in 27.1s.

Tightly-assessed pacer Ohoka Texas resumed in the same heat.

Restrained early to last of the four, he ran home solidly first-up without being extended by Craig Ferguson.

“He’s coming up good. We’ll look at a race at Addington on August 24 with him,” Mark said.

Maiden Lavros Is King (4g Bettor’s Delight-Posh Lavra) shaped well, moving up parked for Kimberly Butt in a CO mobile pace.

He fought well but leader Franco Toulone kicked back to hold on.

Lavros Is King was a game second, with Diplomat and Dash on Bye (trail) next.

Top Notch Lavros led up and ran solid time in the 1-win or faster trot, only to be caught late by Proud Quilt, with Ignite a close-up third, in a head and nose three-way finish.

Proud Quilt, trained by Leo O’Reilly, trotted the 2600m in 3:26.1, the leaders running their last 800m in 60.2s and final 400m in 30.2s.

The Met & Auckland stakes releases

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Addington Raceway logo

 

 

THE MET 10%-PLUS INCREASE

 

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is pleased to announce that budgeted total pay-out of stakes to owners, trainers and drivers for the 2013-14 season will total over $7.2 million, an increase of over 10% on 2012-13.

Chairman of the NZMTC David Rankin said: “this increase is in line with Addington’s five year Strategic Plan as it is important to the NZMTC to maximise sustainable long term returns to our stakeholders balanced with maintaining and enhancing our infra-structure.”

The stakes increases will be distributed throughout all grades from maidens through to open class.

A significant amount of approximately $400,000 is budgeted to be injected into lesser grade racing by way of the increase in the minimum stake and a proposed new Seasonal Super Series to cater for a wide range of horses. The Racing Department at the NZMTC will announce details around this scheme early in the new season.

The Show Day Futurity Mobile Pace will carry an estimated stake of $40,000 catering for pacers aged four year old and over on 1 August 2013 that were either eligible for a non-winners race or who were unqualified as at 3 July 2013.

There will be considerable increases in the stakes of some of the glamour events at Addington.

The Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup will be held for a stake of $650,000 a $50,000 increase on 2012 which is in line with the desire of the NZMTC to maintain the status of the great race as the richest standing start harness race in Australasia.

The stake for the Woodlands New Zealand Pacing Free For All will rise $50,000 to $200,000 and will once again be run over one mile from the mobile gate. Both the Muscara Standardbreds New Zealand Derby and Canterbury Breeders New Zealand Oaks will have increases of $25,000.

The Met Mutiplier will once again be staged next season. This initiative has become increasingly popular with participants. 14 horses of various classes

have now qualified for the $7,500 pay-out to owners and trainers. There are many horses very close to satisfying the requirements and looking to cash in at their next start or two.

Full details of the 2013-14 Racing Initiatives can be found at www.addington.co.nz

Courtesy of Ged Mooar
Marketing & Commercial Manager
Addington, July 24, 2013

24th July 2013

AUCKLAND CONFIRMS ALABAR NZ SPONSORSHIP

Alexandra Park is delighted to announce the continuation of their relationship with Alabar NZ for a further two seasons.

Alabar NZ’s Sponsorship with Alexandra Park is part of their on-going involvement and support of the Harness Racing Industry in New Zealand.

Alabar will be actively involved at Alexandra Park with the continued sponsorship of the Alabar Mobile Barrier and the Alabar Classic.

Previously known as the ‘Alabar Elsu Classic’, from the 2013/14 racing season this race will be renamed the ‘Alabar Classic’.

This prestigious Group 2 race has carried the sponsorship of Alabar since its inception in 2005 and is a race that continues to be targeted by trainers of top 3 year old pacing colts and geldings. 2012 winner Ohoka Punter went on to win both the Victoria Derby and Northern Derby in his 3year old season. The 2013 version of this race will be held on the 13th of December for a stake of $50,000.

Alabar NZ has an exciting book of Stallions for the upcoming breeding season including new sire Auckland Reactor. For more information click here.

Courtesy of David Branch
Assistant Racing Manager
david@alexpark.co.nz
027 475 1508