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.

To see the full Group and Feature Racing Calendar click here