Final 2025-26 dates calendar confirmed

The dates calendar for the 2025-26 season has now been finalised.

For harness racing it features six additional race dates compared to the 2024-25 season. They are at Addington (2), Auckland Trotting Club (4) including one at Ruakaka, Banks Peninsula (1), Methven (1) and Oamaru (2).

"Any increase is welcome and good for the industry," says Harness Racing New Zealand's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, "and six new meetings is a result though is less than we had hoped for."

In the draft calendar released in May there was provision for 15 additional meetings for the up-coming season.

“We were keen to continue to provide racing opportunities particularly for lower grade horses at Cambridge and Addington though the expanded calendar was always subject to funding," says Peden.

That funding has not been approved so nine meetings - mainly midweek meetings at Cambridge and Addington -  have been removed from the final calendar.

The three clubs involved have all been notified of the changes.

The nine meetings are :

Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Racing Club (Cambridge) : 11 June 2026, 25 June 2026, 9 July 2026, 23 July 2026
New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (Addington) : 16 December 2025, 28 January 2026, 11 February 2026, 20 May 2026
Oamaru Harness Racing Club : 4 June 2026

"I have spoken to the affected clubs in recent weeks and explained why the changes have been made," says Peden. 

"If anyone has any queries I am always happy to explain."