Confidence Returns: New Zealand records largest breeding increase in 16 years

The 2025/26 season represents the largest increase in individual mares served in 16 seasons and just the third year on year lift recorded since 2009/10.

The 2025/26 breeding season closed with 1670 individual mares served, up from 1571 the previous season. That is an increase of 99 mares, or 6.3 percent. Total services, which includes mares covered more than once, rose from 1675 to 1785, a lift of 110 services or 6.6 percent. On paper it is a modest rise. In context it is significant.

While there have been isolated increases since 2009/10, including lifts of 21 mares in 2017/18 and 58 mares in 2021/22, the broader trend over the past decade and a half has been one of sustained contraction. Each year the base narrowed. Each year the conversation centred on contraction, ageing breeders, tightening economics and a racing environment that was not providing enough certainty to justify risk.

At the outset of this season, the shared position between Harness Racing New Zealand and the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association was not framed around rapid expansion. The focus was stabilisation. Arrest the decline first, then reassess what was realistically achievable.

On that measure, this season represents tangible progress.

The lift has occurred alongside a deliberate restructuring of incentives and renewed investment into the racing product. Stakes growth under the Entain agreement, programming adjustments and a clearer strategic direction at governance level have provided the platform. Breeding specific initiatives have reinforced it.

The number of mares served by Harness 5000 eligible stallions rose from 580 to 811, an increase of 231 mares or 39.8 percent. That movement is material. It reflects a direct response to incentive alignment and pricing thresholds, with several stallions either entering the market under the scheme or repositioning their service fees to meet eligibility. Based on the fee adjustments and the number of mares served, breeders collectively saved in excess of $250,000 in service costs this season alone.

The Fillies and Mares Credit Scheme, Harness 5000 and Paddock to Podium were introduced to strengthen breeder confidence and improve retention within the domestic system. The uptake indicates those settings are having the intended effect. HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden views the increase as evidence that the strategic alignment is beginning to translate.

“We’re seeing the early dividends of a very clear industry focus. Stabilise the mare base, strengthen incentives, and create genuine opportunity. A six percent lift is a positive and meaningful shift.”

“The combination of financial initiatives like the Fillies and Mares Credit Scheme alongside programmes such as Harness 5000 and Paddock to Podium has helped rebuild confidence.”

“Importantly, the enhanced elite opportunities for fillies and mares are creating greater long term retention within our system, which supports both racing depth and breeding sustainability.”

From an executive standpoint, HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele was equally measured.

“To record growth in mares bred to after decades of sustained decline is significant. It signals early renewed confidence from breeders and owners, and reflects the collective work being done across stakes investment, targeted breeding incentives, industry engagement, and long term strategic planning.”

“While a single year does not reverse long term trends on its own, it is an important turning point.”

“We are grateful to our breeders for backing the industry and for their continued commitment to quality and performance. This uplift gives us momentum, but we remain committed to disciplined growth and structural reform to ensure the gains are sustained.”

The pacing market accounted for the bulk of the overall lift, rising from 1160 mares to 1239, an increase of 79 mares or 6.8 percent. The growth was not evenly spread, but it was commercially logical.

Downbytheseaside was the clear headline act. Off the back of an outstanding 2025 racing season in which he was the leading sire of individual Group One juvenile winners, he topped the pacing list with 196 mares. That represented an increase of 122 on the previous season. It was not speculative support. It was performance driven as results across the Tasman and in North America further solidifying his reputation. Breeders responded to results at the highest level and did so decisively.

King Of Swing provided one of the clearest examples of how pricing structure and incentive alignment can directly influence behaviour. His service fee was reduced from $6,500 to $5,000 to meet Harness 5000 eligibility, and his book lifted from eight mares to 48 in 2025/26. The market reacted quickly. The Breckon Farms bred son of Rocknroll Hanover has since received solid backing through the 2026 NZB Standardbred Sales, and the early racetrack encouragement provided by the Bob Butt trained Fanfare, who finished second on debut at Addington in February, has only added to that confidence.

Perfect Sting was the only other pacing stallion to record a double figure increase in mares served. His lift reflected strong early results from his first North American crop and, to a degree, the reshaping of the local market following the absence of Always B Miki from this season’s roster due to injury. Breeders looking for a son of Always B Miki with commercial upside were not short of motivation.

US Captain, another Macca Lodge interest now based in partnership with Wai Eyre Farm, justified the investment made by the two operations. The blue blooded son of Captaintreacherous, and Harness 5000 eligible, served 94 mares in his first season from his new New Zealand base. That figure underlines the appetite for elite North American bloodlines when they are positioned within a supportive domestic incentive structure.

At the other end of the scale, Bettor’s Delight continued to demonstrate that class and longevity remain powerful currencies. The stallion widely referred to as “The King” served 65 mares. It was his smallest New Zealand book in two decades, but the reduction has been deliberate rather than demand driven. Now permanently based at Woodlands Stud and no longer undertaking annual shuttle duties to North America, the 28 year old continues to produce at the highest level while operating on a more managed scale. The numbers are smaller, but his influence is not.

The trotting market told its own story. For what is believed to be the first time, more trotting stallions were patronised than pacing stallions, with 34 trotting sires used compared to 30 pacers. With an estimated gene pool of 500 to 520 trotting mares, that level of spread reflects both depth of choice and the continued integration of international bloodlines into the New Zealand trotting landscape.

Oscar Bonavena emerged as the standout. The son of Majestic Son served 52 mares in 2025/26, up from 20 the previous season, becoming the first New Zealand bred trotting stallion in the modern era to top his gait’s service list. The achievement is notable in its own right, but gains added significance when viewed alongside his continued elite level racing performances. His victory in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup during the season provided a timely and high profile endorsement of his credentials at stud, reinforcing confidence among breeders considering him.

EL Titan recorded the largest year on year increase, rising from just three mares to 38. The son of Muscle Hill has long carried international credibility, and this season’s lift suggests renewed domestic traction.

Nevele R Stud’s Marcoola increased by 15 mares, while Father Patrick lifted by 10 after his service fee was adjusted to meet the Harness 5000 threshold. For an established stallion of his credentials, the move was a calculated one, but it was clearly effective.

Across both gaits, the growth followed clear signals. Stallion performance, service fee positioning and incentive alignment all played their part.

From a breeders’ perspective, confidence has always been closely tied to the strength and viability of the racing environment.

“At the outset of the 2025/26 breeding season, the shared goal with Harness Racing New Zealand was stabilisation, given the eight preceding seasons had all recorded declining mare numbers,” said NZSBA Executive Manager, Brad Reid.

“While that trend has been experienced across almost all global jurisdictions, ours has been sharp and has proven difficult to address for a range of reasons.

“We know from years of survey feedback that the single biggest driver of breeding confidence is a healthy and sustainable racing product. With the investment of Entain and the strategic decision making of the HRNZ board and senior management, it’s fair to say our racing product is the strongest it has been for many decades.

“When that is combined with significant direct investment into the breeding sector at levels not previously seen in this country, it gave me confidence that stabilisation was an achievable goal. We have worked closely with HRNZ as their breeding delivery partner to improve and address areas within our control, and I think we can both take some satisfaction from seeing an increase on the back of that work.

“As Brad Steele has noted, one year does not undo decades of decline, but it does demonstrate what can be achieved when investment and strategy align with genuine effort. The response from across the industry, not just breeders, has been instrumental. There has been a broader recognition that sustainability in future foal crops is a shared responsibility, and that was evident with studs, breeding farms, breeders and decision makers all playing their part.

“The task now is to build on this foundation and, where appropriate, accelerate that growth. I don’t see that as unrealistic, particularly with initiatives such as Paddock to Podium, where returns to breeders have only begun flowing from 1 January this year. There is still upside in that programme alone.

“At the same time, our own strategic repositioning as a Kindred Body has delivered tangible outcomes, including increased membership and record event attendance. That tells us engagement is strengthening at breeder level. We certainly won’t be standing still,” said Reid.

Since the 2009/10 season, when mare numbers increased by 104, there have been only three year on year lifts, those being 2017/18, 2021/22 and now 2025/26.

That lift is built on breeder commitment. Many have continued investing through uncertainty, backing the long term future of the industry through challenging cycles.

The obligation now is to continue strengthening the structures that support those decisions and to ensure that the foals being bred today are met with depth, viability and opportunity in the years ahead.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this release stated that the 2025/26 season represented the first year on year increase in mares served in eight seasons. While the broader trend has been one of sustained decline, there was a modest increase recorded in 2021/22. The article has been updated to reflect this.