A new trainers’ championship, with a prize pool of $10,000, will be up for grabs in the top half of the South Island, starting in October.
The Seddon Harness Racing Group has announced plans to run the Trainers’ Championship, starting at Kaikoura on Sunday 30th October and finishing on March 12 2023 at Reefton.
“We think it’s a great idea and ultimately we want to reward those trainers who are loyal to us and also encourage as many trainers as possible to send their horses to our race meetings,” says Seddon Harness Racing Group chair John Rogers.
There will be eleven days of racing, with trainers needing to have starters at six of the 11 days.
“We have decided to make people aware of the new championship in plenty of time so they can start making decisions about where they’ll be racing over the next few months.”
The 11 days are:
Kaikoura Trotting Club, October 30 & 31
Westport Trotting Club, December 26 & 28, March 10 2023
Reefton Trotting Club, December 30, March 12 2023
Nelson Harness Racing Club, January 13 & 15 2023
Marlborough Harness Racing Club, January 20 and 22 2023
“We are confident this will create real interest for participants, punters and enthusiasts.”
The prizemoney will be divided between public trainers and those who have a licence to train, with $3500 to the winners of each, $1000 to the runner-up and $500 to the third place-getter
Trainers will receive two points for each race day they attend plus:
6 points for 1st
3 points for 2nd
2 points for 3rd
1 point for 4th in every race run on the eleven days.
An additional two bonus points will be allocated to the trainers of all starters in designated feature races – if a trainer starts more than one horse in a feature race they will receive two bonus points for each horse that starts.
The designated feature races are:
Alabar Kaikoura Cup
IRT Trotters Cup
Pulse Energy Westport Cup
Caltex Westport Cup
FT Dooley Kawatiri Cup
Rosco Contracting Reefton Cup
Inangahua Grey Valley Cup
Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup Classic
Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup
Marlborough Cup Prelude
Marlborough Cup
The prize is being funded by Harness Racing New Zealand ($5000) and each of the Seddon Group clubs.
For more information contact john@oceanviewokari.co.nz
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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