Review underway into Kaikoura’s meeting

[Wandering Eyes]

A joint review of Kaikoura’s two day meeting is underway, and change could be in the wind.

The South Bay raceway hosted eight races under the Fast 10 format on Sunday November 3 followed on Marlborough Anniversary day by 10 races including the Alabar Kaikoura Cup.

From a turnover perspective there was mixed news. Export turnover, from Australia, was strong and up significantly on 2023. On-course turnover and the number of individuals betting on the two meetings was also encouraging, though the overall turnover was down – from $2.53m to $2.265m.

“Our modelling shows that the Kaikoura meeting is potentially a $3m turnover meeting,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele, “and that’s the target we have set ourselves.”

This year there were 64 starters on the Sunday and 85 on the Monday.

“Those numbers were ok but there is scope to attract more horses to those two days,” says Steele.

Both HRNZ and the Kaikoura Trotting Club are now looking in detail at the two-day meeting and considering ways to improve it.

One proposal is to make changes to the home turn at Kaikoura track.

“The lack of camber has been a  discussion point for many years,” says Kaikoura TC President Ben Smith, “and there are two schools of thought. One is that should stay the same as it’s part of the uniqueness of racing at Kaikoura, the other is that change is needed.”

“We are open minded about it.”

With that in mind a survey has been sent out to mainly Canterbury and Marlborough licence-holders to gauge their thoughts.

Their feedback will then form part of discussions moving forward.

“We had a design and costings done in February 2022 to camber the whole bend,” says Smith, “with HRNZ support this investment may be feasible if it leads to more starters and turnover.”

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” says Smith, “we would need to consult a number of parties including the local council and iwi.”

Further meetings are planned between HRNZ and Kaikoura Trotting Club representatives with decisions expected by March 2025.

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