The Waipukurau and Woodville racetracks look to have been thrown a lifeline under a report released on Tuesday that could see the closure of a further seven New Zealand racing venues.
The two equine racing codes, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) have released their infrastructure plan after considering an extensive external report named Project Stamina.
Both the Waipukurau Jockey Club and the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club have been treated favourably under the report, which recommends racing should continue at both venues.
Recommendations are that Hastings would be retained as a Metropolitan venue, with plans still in the making to build a new racetrack on the outskirts of Flaxmere.
Project Stamina, funded by TAB NZ, was compiled by Auckland-based consultancy company RCP to look at the most economical path to a restructuring of New Zealand horse racing’s tracks and infrastructure.
The two racing codes have agreed with many of the report recommendations but, through their own working group named One Equine View, disagreed with others.
Under the recommendations, seven tracks that currently hold race meetings are set to close. They are Trentham and Rotorua (thoroughbreds only), Manawatu and Wyndham (harness tracks only) and Gore, Hawera and Oamaru (used for thoroughbred and harness racing).
Racing on the Avondale track has already ceased, with the last meeting held there held on July 15.
Also set to be closed are 11 non-racing tracks which are either used for training and trials, or currently unused. These are Thames, Te Awamutu, Opaki, Wairoa, Foxton, Stratford and Levin (thoroughbreds) and Kumeu, Spotswood Farm, Waikouaiti and Balfour (harness).
The One Equine View recommends retaining 39 venues and holding a further five, pending business cases.
The 39 have been categorised as either being Metropolitan tracks, Provincial tracks or Community venues.
While Hastings would be a Metropolitan track, Waipukurau and Woodville are both classed as Community venues.
Awapuni, Waverley, Tauherenikau, New Plymouth, Otaki and Wanganui are the other Central Districts tracks recommended to retain their licence under the One Equine View but both Otaki and Wanganui would be closed under Project Stamina.
Ellerslie, Pukekohe and Ruakaka would be the three Auckland-based clubs retained while, in the Waikato/Bay Of Plenty district, One Equine View would like to see Te Rapa, Matamata, Tauranga, Te Aroha, Taupo and the Cambridge synthetic track retained pending the establishment of a new Waikato Greenfields venue, which would encompass most of them.
Riccarton, Kurow, Greymouth, Reefton and Kumara would be retained under the One Equine View for thoroughbred racing in the upper South Island and Canterbury regions, along with Ashburton and Timaru as dual code venues but Project Stamina recommends closing the latter two.
Wingatui, Ascot Park, Riverton and Cromwell would all be retained in the Otago/Southland district as dual code venues.
Three of the retained venues - Ōtaki, Tauherenikau and Wingatui - would stop hosting harness racing but continue to host thoroughbred meetings.
The Project Stamina Masterplan follows an extensive independent review of New Zealand's racing and training venue network.
Over many years, New Zealand's racing footprint has evolved while participant numbers, horse populations and industry economics have changed. As a result, the industry now has more venues than can be sustainably supported, with capital and operating expenditure spread too thinly across the country.
More than 50 workshops and meetings were held with clubs, participant groups and industry organisations throughout New Zealand as part of the independent review, with feedback helping shape the final recommendations.
The Masterplan also drew on more than a decade of previous industry reviews and strategic work, including the recommendations of the Messara Report, ensuring Project Stamina builds on existing knowledge while providing a clear, co-ordinated pathway for future investment and implementation.
NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick said the release of Project Stamina marked a significant milestone for the industry.
"This is about ensuring New Zealand racing has the infrastructure it needs to thrive for decades to come. Project Stamina provides a clear, evidence-based roadmap that puts the long-term interests of the industry first, while keeping the welfare of the horse at the centre of the network."
"Doing nothing is not an option. Our infrastructure must reflect today's racing landscape and be capable of supporting future growth. This plan gives us the opportunity to invest where it will deliver the greatest long-term benefit for participants, horses and the wider industry."
HRNZ Chairman Grant Jarrold said the collaboration between the two codes was a defining feature of the project.
"NZTR and HRNZ have worked collaboratively together through this significant body of work with Project Stamina, with each code contributing their specific perspectives to the development of One Equine View. While each code has its own operational needs, we recognise that many venues and investment decisions are interconnected."
The recommendations focus on creating a venue network that delivers reliable racing and training surfaces, stronger wagering performance, sustainable revenue and high-quality facilities for horses and participants.
Hastings-trained Monroe defied the odds
Hastings-trained Monroe looks like becoming another bargain buy from the Gavelhouse online auction site.
The Vadamos gelding, who turns five today, broke through for a maiden win at only his fourth start when taking out a 2200m race at Te Aroha last Sunday and looks destined for more riches for the training partnership of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal.
Monroe was initially sold for $70,000 at the 2023 Karaka yearling sales but Nelson was able to pick him up for just $2700 on Gavelhouse in January of last year.
“I guess I was a bit lucky to get him so cheap,” Nelson said this week.
“We didn’t actually get to see him in the flesh but Emily Farr (jumps jockey) knew about him and did a bit of homework for us.”
At that stage Monroe was an unraced three-year-old in work with the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata.
“They said he was a big weak horse that needed time. He hadn’t raced at that stage but there was nothing wrong with him so we thought we would give him a go,” Nelson said.
Monroe made his race debut over 1600m at Waipukurau in April this year, finishing ninth out of 12 runners.
It was almost two months before he had his second start, where he showed a slight improvement to finish sixth out of 14 over 2100m at Woodville, and he showed further improvement at his third outing for a fifth over 2100m at Woodville on July 12.
Monroe was the centre of a big betting plunge when he lined up at Te Aroha last Sunday, where he was backed in from an opening quote of $23 to start at odds of 10 to one.
Nelson said it definitely wasn’t him that caused the horse’s odds to tumble in.
“I didn’t even have a bet. I was just hoping he could win,” Nelson added.
Promising apprentice Hayley Hassman was aboard Monroe on Sunday and settled the horse back fourth last in in the early stages. She started to improve her mount’s position entering the last 700m and had him in a challenging position as the tightly bunched field came to the home turn.
The well backed Paper Romance had tried to put a break on the field and looked to have a winning break on the field when rider Bridget Grylls angled him out wide early in the home straight. But Monroe kept up a determined finish closer in and, in a slog to the finish in the heavy track conditions, he managed to get up and snatch a nose victory on the line.
Monroe is by Vadamos out of the Keeper mare Lady Aroha and is a half-brother to another Hastings-trained horse in La Dulcin’ee.
The latter is a six-year-old mare by Per Incanto who has recorded three wins and 16 minor placings from the stable of her part-owner Patrick Campbell.
La Dulcin’ee’s three victories have all been over sprint distances but Monroe certainly looks more of a stayer in the making.
Riddell clearly wins apprentice title
With well over 800 rides to her name this season Amber Riddell has been the country’s most active jockey in the season just gone and her hard work has been rewarded with a runaway win in the National Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership.
The 24-year-old finished the season nearly 20 wins clear of her nearest rival and was rapt to achieve her season goal in such convincing fashion.
“I am really pleased with how the whole season has gone,” Riddell said. “My goal for the season was to win the premiership, so I am really glad to have achieved it.”
Riddell also finished third place in the overall jockeys’ premiership, and while each win has been meaningful, there are a couple of clear highlights.
“Winning the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1200m) on Better Shared was really special because it was my first Listed win,” Riddell said.
“Winning the Southern Alps ($350,000, 1500m) with Toa Haka was also special as it is a big money race.”
Riddell hasn’t been shy of hopping on a plane to travel around the country in search of riding opportunities, and she has been particularly rewarded in the South Island.
“I have gained a lot of Airpoints flying around the country,” Riddell said. “I really enjoy the travel and I like keeping busy, and the South Island has been great to me.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of the South Island trainers. I have ridden at pretty much every South Island meeting this season.
“It has been a really long season of travelling but it has definitely been rewarding.”
Another major highlight for Riddell this season was heading to Brisbane for a week in April to compete in Australia’s National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) at Eagle Farm.