Excitement around return of Thursday racing at Cambridge

[Wandering Eyes]

Cambridge Raceway is welcoming a return to Thursday racing, saying it’s “excited” about the move.

Last week the Entain and Harness Racing New Zealand management teams were involved in a strategy and review meeting in Auckland, with the “Look North” strategy a key part of their discussions.

The strategy was launched as part of the “Future Starts Now” last year and is focused on reinvigorating racing in the north, particularly at Cambridge and Alexandra Park.

Entain’s own wagering figures show that punters across the country are supporting Look North. Nationally, wagering is up 6% and active punters are up 17%.

Last week’s review agreed that a move from Tuesday to Thursday racing was the best thing for Cambridge. The first of the Thursday meetings will be on May 15. That change has been ratified by the TAB NZ Dates Committee.    

“All parties are looking at ways to improve and while the review showed that Tuesdays at Cambridge have been a qualified success and achieved a lot of objectives it was decided that Thursday is a better fit,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele.

“It is a better time slot for the club, licence-holders generally, for Entain and Trackside as well as for punters here and in Australia through Sky 2. The export turnover on Cambridge Tuesdays has been excellent and can grow further”

It’s also envisaged that the Thursday coverage on Trackside will promote Friday Night Lights too.

“We are confident racing at Cambridge on a Thursday won’t compromise Friday racing at Alexandra Park,” says Steele, “in fact they will complement each other.”

“We’re fully supportive of the move from Tuesday to Thursday for the WBOP (Waikato – Bay of Plenty) meetings,” says Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive Dave Branch, “especially from a catering and sponsorship perspective it makes a lot of sense.”

“We are genuinely excited about the shift and where things are headed. Tuesday racing has been a success, but this move will further enhance that.”

The Raceway has a massive week or so ahead of it. It hosts Waikato Flying Miles night this Friday featuring the likes of Merlin and Oscar Bonavena  ahead of its Night of Champions on Friday, April 4 when the best of Australasia’s pacing and trotting talent will battle it out in the $1m Race by betcha and the $600,000 TAB Trot.

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