By Michael Guerin
Addington are the latest club to join in boosting stakes for the new season, with $10,000 minimums for the home of harness racing heading forward.
Coming on the back of similar decisions — for minimums of varying amounts in Auckland, Waikato and Southland — the news continues the huge influx of new money into harness racing for next season.
“With significant additional returns now starting to flow from the New Zealand Racing Board and on the back of a prolonged period of extremely positive operating results here at the
Raceway itself, we are delighted to announce we will offer a minimum stake of $10,000 next
season” says NZMTC chairman Barry Dent.
In an effort to ensure all horses have the ability to compete for additional stake/bonus money during the season, the Club has also ensured the increases have been applied across the board ensuring horses of any rating.
“This will see a significant number of races, past maidens, contested for between $13,499 and $14,400 and all races during Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Week will run for a minimum of $25,000.
“Our Board believe it is important the stakes/bonus increases are applied across the entire horse population to ensure that not only the first win makes it more viable for owners but there are solid attractive opportunities to race their horse many more times in New Zealand.
”Paying attention to one class of horse in a disproportional manner will in our view inevitably lead to an imbalance in the horse supply and we will end up paying an even greater penalty as an industry further down the road” said Dent.
“No one goes to the yearling sales to buy a horse that will end up winning one race so we believe it is important that we keep pace with the international level of prize money at the elite end of our sport.
“As a result, all group two and group three races held at Addington and a small number of group one features will also have stake increases for the new season” Dent added.
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