Change in qualifying criteria for young horses

Harness Racing New Zealand is urging a "change of mindset" around racing young horses.

“We want trainers to understand that young horses are able to go to the trials and qualify from October 1 annually, though they wont be able to race until they turn two," says HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.

"Prior to the birth-date change three years ago 2YOs could qualify from August 1 and the first lot of 2YO races were programmed for mid-late October, so it isn't that major a change."

"It just involves a change of mindset among owners, trainers and licence-holders generally."

The change in birth-date to a calendar year rather than August 1 - July 31 came into place in 2022.

"The fact that the year is now January to December is critical to our thinking," says Peden, "if young horses trial or qualify in October they would potentially be ready to race in January as two-year-olds."

"We have seen two-year-old racing make some serious progress in the last year or so with a number of lucrative bonuses to get young horses up and going early."

There are $12,000 bonuses in place for every youngster winning their first two-year-old race and this year has also seen the Next Gen ownership model come into play with $600,000 in bonuses for NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales purchases in their 2YO season.

But there is potential for more.

"There were 114 individual 2YO winners in 2024 but that was only up three per cent up on 2023. We think there is scope for greater growth there."

"Ideally we would like to get some newly-qualified 2YOs at races like the Young Guns in Auckland in late January," says Peden, "they are now $100k for each of the colts and geldings, and fillies and trotters from 2026."

"Our data also tells us that a horse that starts their careers as two-year-olds will have on average 39 starts across New Zealand as opposed to 28 if they start as three-year-olds."

"With the number of races increasing year on year we are keen to explore ways to best use our horses right around the country."

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