Stakes boosts & feature racing updates announced!

Group and Feature races confirmed for 2025-26 season

The Group and Feature Racing Schedule for the 2025-26 season has been finalised.

It will kick off with the first of the season's features, the National Handicap Pace at Addington this Friday.

"As always it's a massive project involving the juggling of over 200 races," says Harness Racing New Zealand's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.

"It is the culmination of many weeks' work and it's no easy task."

"The key is the balance between keeping the proven and the traditional features but also embracing change to keep the sport evolving."

Some features have had their stakes and status upgraded, including the Entain Junior Free For All (FFA) on IRT New Zealand Cup day (November 11).

“It will go from a Group 3 to a Group 2 and the stakes increase from $40,000 to $60,000,” says Peden. “The race is a long-standing feature on Cup Day and deserves more recognition.”

Two races that have gone from Group 2 to Group 3 status are the Kindergarten Stakes in March and the 2YO Fillies Southern Classic in April.

"The reasoning behind the Kindergarten Stakes is that it has attracted low field sizes in recent years, requiring a revision of both stake and group status."

“The stake reduction for the Southern Classic is a result of a change in funding, following the end of the two-year Entain Carnival Fund. The form out of both editions of the Southern Classic shows there’s obvious merit in retaining the race, so HRNZ will fund it entirely, though at a reduced stake,” says Peden.

The stake for the 2YO Fillies Southern Classic will be $40,000 with the Kindergarten Stakes at $50,000.

There's also been a re-jig with Addington Raceway's Oaks and Derby meeting in November.

The Aces races have been removed from the calendar but the two-year-old Pacing and Trotting Fillies will be racing in two new races, the Millwood Nike Classic and the Gold Bracelet.

"They will both be at $50,000 and be Group 3s," says Peden , "and how good to have a race named after Millwood Nike!"

The now five-year-old mare finished racing in December 2023 with an unbeaten streak of 17 wins from 17 lifetime starts. She was subsequently named 2024 New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year.

2YOs to race for big money and Group 1 glory at Alexandra Park

Heats and conditions have now been approved for the three $100,000 2YO Young Guns Finals at Alexandra Park next year.

The Delightful Lady Classic (fillies) and the Cardigan Bay Stakes (colts and geldings) will be held on March 20,2026 while the re-named Easton Light Classic will see the two-year-old trotters battling it out on May 8. All three will be Group 1s.

The stake for the Delightful Lady Classic increases from $70,000 to $100,000. It has also been upgraded from a Group 2.

Both the Delightful Lady Classic and the Cardigan Bay Stakes will feature three $17,000 heats, with the first four automatically qualifying for the Final, if nominated. Heats for both series will be held on January 23, February 20 and March 6, all at Alexandra Park.

The Easton Light Classic's re-naming comes after the 2YO Young Guns final that was won by Duchess Maria on May 10 this year. Its stake doubles from $50,000. There won't be any heats in this series but there is a $30,000 Prelude, also at Alexandra Park, on April 24. The first five home will qualify for the final.

Southern maiden stakes to get financial boost

Southern Harness is to get an extra $50,000 to help bolster stakes in maiden races.

The funding from Harness Racing New Zealand will be used during the 2025/26 season.

"The whole point is to top up as many maiden races as we can to $15,000," says HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, "we have had a lot of feedback over the years that maiden stakes need to be improved in places like Southland so we are doing all we can to improve that."

"We certainly appreciate the injection of money to the region," says Southern Harness General Manager and National Bureau member Jason Broad.

"We have races now where the stake is $12,000 so it will be great to increase them where possible and we will start doing that in October and then spread it out over the season."

The increase will apply to both gaits

"It reflects HRNZ's commitment to racing in the region," says Peden, "and follows on from new initiatives we have started down there like the Southern Surge."

Decisions on what races are selected, and the size of the top ups, will be made jointly by Southern Harness and HRNZ.