Country Cups set to make its mark

by Dave Di Somma

The qualifying conditions have been confirmed for the new Country Cups championship which will culminate in a $100,000 final next Easter.

The Country Cups initiative was first announced when Harness Racing New Zealand released its new Racing Calendar earlier in the year and since then a lot of work has gone into the finer detail.

“We are delighted with the end result, “ says HRNZ General Manager – Racing Catherine McDonald, “we are very keen to inject some money and interest into intermediate grade racing, and we’re expecting the series to be very popular with owners, trainers and punters alike.”

The Country Cups series will feature 33 qualifying races. The championship started with the Kurow Cup in August last year and will finish with the Mount Hutt Cup on April 10 2022.

The final, over 3200 metres, will be held at Addington on Easter Saturday 2022.

To be eligible for the final horses must have started in at least three qualifying races. Points will be accrued during the series with the top finishers making the final. The $100,000 Listed final will have a maximum of 16 starters.

So far the series has featured big fields and competitive racing and this is expected to only intensify in the countdown to the final.A Cups points table will be published on the HRNZ website in the New Year, and updated after each qualifying race.

To view Qualifying conditions click here

To view Qualifying races click here

For more information contact :

Catherine McDonald
General Manager - Racing

DDI: 03 964 1192
Mobile: 027 2410021
Email: [email protected]
Mail: PO Box 459, Christchurch 8140