More meetings and more races proposed for 2025-26

[Wandering Eyes]

Harness racing will have an extra 146 races and 15 additional meetings, under the just-released draft calendar for the 2025-26 season.

The extra dates will see a total of 304 meetings and 2817 races in the 12 months from August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026.

The 15 additional dates will be :

NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club (6)
Auckland Trotting Club (4)
Waikato – Bay of Plenty (4)
Oamaru (3)
Banks Peninsula, Invercargill and Methven (1)

The clubs losing dates are :

Kapiti Coast (2)
Forbury, Manawatu and Rangiora (1)

Of the ATC’s four meetings one is planned for Ruakaka on Easter Monday, April 6, 2026 while Waikato – Bay of Plenty will host its first ever meeting at Taupo on Auckland Anniversary Day on January 26,2026. This was first announced in February this year.

Addington has six lower grade Wednesday meetings and will host a meeting on the Friday prior to Cup week. This was a Rangiora date. The two Premier meetings in late November and early December are replaced with a new Premier meeting on the Friday after Show Day.

All dates are subject to the final code funding agreement that is expected by the end of next month.

To see HRNZ’s Official Notice click here

To see the 2025-26 Racing Calendar click here

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