LATEST: Industry Update | RACE Awapuni Track 11 March 2026

[Chief Stipe]

Industry Update | RACE Awapuni Track

NZTR and RACE Inc. would like to thank participants, memfor their patience and support during what has been a difficult period for racing at RACE Awapuni.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing | March 11, 2026

Background

The RACE Awapuni track had been experiencing performance issues, which ultimately led to a full reconstruction of the surface. After several years of work, the track returned to racing on 25 April 2025. Unfortunately, a slip in the first race resulted in the meeting being abandoned, and there has been no racing at RACE Awapuni since.

New to the role, NZTR’s Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty, with the approval of the Board of Directors, engaged independent specialist and internationally respected track adviser Liam O’Keeffe.

Given the investment was significant, the decision was made to determine whether the new surface could be remediated to provide a safe and consistent racing surface. A range of initiatives were trialled, including verti-draining and surface treatments designed to soften the track profile.

While some progress was made, a further slip some months later during morning gallops confirmed that the surface could not be signed off as safe for racing. The track was proving inconsistent - capable of performing adequately one day and presenting unacceptable risk the next.

What Has Been Learned

A review of the original project has highlighted a number of challenges in both governance and delivery.

Issues relating to design accountability, engineering oversight and overall project coordination contributed to the outcome. In hindsight, additional racecourse construction expertise could have been better integrated into the project.

NZTR acknowledges that elements of the original RACE Awapuni track design were not aligned with the performance expectations of a premier racing venue hosting 20+ meetings annually.

However, the work completed has not been entirely lost. Key components of the drainage system, irrigation infrastructure and parts of the base profile meet the required standards, meaning elements of the existing investment can likely be incorporated into the long-term solution.

Independent Technical Review

Following NZTR’s decision in November 2025 that there would be no further racing at RACE Awapuni this season, NZTR engaged Evergreen Turf, the specialists responsible for the successful Hastings track remediation, to undertake a comprehensive independent technical review.

Working alongside local track managers, the RACE Inc. Board and NZTR consultant Liam O’Keeffe, Evergreen Turf conducted detailed soil testing, forensic analysis and investigations into suitable sand sources.

Evergreen Turf’s technical assessment confirmed that while parts of the existing infrastructure remain sound, the underlying soil profile presents a fundamental constraint to achieving the long-term performance required of a premier racing venue.

The Path Forward

NZTR and RACE Inc. are now working closely together to determine the most appropriate long-term solution for RACE Awapuni.

Planning work is well underway, with both organisations aligned on the need to deliver a track that meets the performance, safety and reliability standards expected of a metropolitan racing venue. Our vision is for RACE Awapuni to become a metro-standard track, capable of hosting racing to the standard expected of a premier venue.

The collective objective is to implement a solution that will enable a return to racing at RACE Awapuni by late 2027.

Importantly, the independent work undertaken over recent months has significantly improved the industry’s understanding of the site and the technical requirements needed to deliver a high-performing track surface.

Looking Ahead

While the past year has been frustrating for participants and stakeholders, the work completed has provided the clarity required to move forward with confidence.

NZTR remains committed to the long-term future of racing at RACE Awapuni and to ensuring the venue can fulfil its important role within the Central Districts racing landscape.

The recent success of the Hastings track remediation demonstrates what can be achieved when specialist racecourse expertise is integrated early into a project. Those learnings will play an important role in shaping the next phase of work at RACE Awapuni.
NZTR and RACE Inc. thank the industry for its patience and support as this work progresses.

A further update will be provided to the industry once the preferred delivery pathway has been finalised.

Issued by the Office of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
18 Dick Street, Cambridge 3434
Tel: 0800 WINNER (946 637)
International: +64 4 576 6240
office@nztr.co.nz

[curious]

Haha.

NZTR engaged Evergreen Turf, the specialists responsible for the successful Hastings track remediation,

It looks promising but they haven't held a race meeting on it yet have they?

[Chief Stipe]

27 minutes ago, curious said:

Haha.

NZTR engaged Evergreen Turf, the specialists responsible for the successful Hastings track remediation,

It looks promising but they haven't held a race meeting on it yet have they?

Think positively @curious the industry is on the up.  I hope your horses are in the North Island.

[jess]

Disgraceful.  So much spin.  Starting with the first date mentioned in their timeline being 25 April 2025 - how about we dial that back to 2023 when they started digging it up ....that is the more relevant date for the long suffering CD & particularly Awapuni-based trainers & owners.  That makes it over 4 years - and that's IF they make their next projected target of racing @late 2027

Also no mention of how long the track will be out of the commission for horses to work on.

It's been the worst kept secret that this has been on the cards for months now - that further major work is required - I guess it's taken that long for NZTR Corporate Communications to craft that crock of ....

"think positively" you say CS - clearly you have no skin in this CD racing game..

 

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, jess said:

"think positively" you say CS - clearly you have no skin in this CD racing game..

Correct not in the CD.

But I don't think @curious and @Freda have either then again they are working feverishly and effectively to fix issues in their home patch.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, jess said:

that is the more relevant date for the long suffering CD & particularly Awapuni-based trainers & owners.  That makes it over 4 years - and that's IF they make their next projected target of racing @late 2027

At least they are getting it right now.  Things are on the up.  Investment in Hastings and Trentham to be fixed soon - gee the CD will be the place to be.  They've even got a great AWT!!!  Trials at Foxton, Jumpouts at Levin and Otaki to be sold to help fund the improvements.

Central Districts the place to be!!

[curious]

20 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Correct not in the CD.

But I don't think @curious and @Freda have either then again they are working feverishly and effectively to fix issues in their home patch.

Haha. Just sent one down to Freda that I had in work at Hastings and ran another less than a year ago at Trentham and Wanganui. Remain a member of a CD club also. At this stage though only have one in work in the NI and that's further north as you know.

[Special Agent]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Central Districts the place to be!!

It hasn't been.  Let's hope the only way is up.

[Chief Stipe]

52 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

It hasn't been.  Let's hope the only way is up.

Start saving those coins and get to the next R2R sale.

[jess]

I don't know who you are Curious - but I hear ya!  I would be open to sending a horse to Freda too - no doubt about it.. But I'm hands on - they spell with me - I've had them since they returned from the stud with my mares - my phone is full of photos & videos every step of the way - I just couldn't have them that far away.  Call it my weakness - it's the way it is & I can't see it changing.. 

[Murray Fish]

1 hour ago, jess said:

it's the way it is & I can't see it changing

yip, I have over time had some interesting 'offers', but like you,  perhaps not as actually hands on,  but I want to be that close I get to actually get to know the horse by spending quality time with it!!  A friend of mine recently reflected how things have changed so much in the now 50 years he has owned!! Like all the first ones there were a max of three owners, often it was two!  Now a min of 10. All were raced out of a Local Stable, where you could turn up whenever! if no one was around you could plod away doing your thing, all nice and low key!  No now, Locked Gates...  

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Murray Fish said:

All were raced out of a Local Stable, where you could turn up whenever!

More polite to phone ahead.  Easier to do that now with modern technology.

1 hour ago, Murray Fish said:

if no one was around you could plod away doing your thing, all nice and low key!  No now, Locked Gates...  

Understandably.  If you don't do that today then you are open to all sorts of issues.  That is the society we live in now unfortunately.  To be honest I'm surprised there isn't even more security.  Many seem to rely on anonymity and being unseen in plain sight. 

[Murray Fish]

8 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

o be honest I'm surprised there isn't even more security. 

sadly so..
talking lack of security etc,  growing up in Waltham Chch in the early 60's,  a couple of 100m down the road from our house was  a fella (cant recall his name) who  had a small stable with a few harness horses in it,  he would get in a sulky, with a couple of other horses in tow,  he was taking them the 4 ks  around the back streets to Addington for fast work! including crossing to cross the busy  Lincoln Road.  I recall,  how often we would get on our bikes and have mock races with him!  There would be a couple of streets where we would be going as fast as we could!!! Giving ourselves names,  Cardigan Bay and Caduceus,  were a couple on my favs...

[Freda]

1 hour ago, Murray Fish said:

sadly so..
talking lack of security etc,  growing up in Waltham Chch in the early 60's,  a couple of 100m down the road from our house was  a fella (cant recall his name) who  had a small stable with a few harness horses in it,  he would get in a sulky, with a couple of other horses in tow,  he was taking them the 4 ks  around the back streets to Addington for fast work! including crossing to cross the busy  Lincoln Road.  I recall,  how often we would get on our bikes and have mock races with him!  There would be a couple of streets where we would be going as fast as we could!!! Giving ourselves names,  Cardigan Bay and Caduceus,  were a couple on my favs...

I used to walk/trot my ponies from Cashmere down Barrington Street and across Lincoln Road to Addington to get them shod.  Blacksmiths Peter Jones, Johnny Dalzell...you might have been one of the cheeky kids yelling smart comments at me on the way!