Industry Notice: Next Gen bonus scheme – 2026 2YO Eligibility

Owners, trainers and syndicators now have two months to meet key eligibility criteria for the Next Gen bonus scheme.

By October 1, 2025 Harness Racing New Zealand must be notified of the trainer details and the ownership group for any horse bought at the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. They will be 2YOs as of January 1, 2026.

"We have had many parties already go through the process of notifying both their trainers and their owners," says Harness Racing New Zealand's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, "so this is just a reminder to those who haven't that the deadline is not that far away."

The Next Gen scheme, run in partnership with HRNZ, TAB NZ and NZB Standardbred, aims to support new ownership, emerging trainers, and investment in young sires.

To be eligible, a horse had to be purchased at the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales at Auckland or Christchurch in February and meet at least one of the following:

Be by a Next Gen sire (stallion in their first, second, or third NZ crop)
Be trained by a Next Gen trainer (no Group 1 win before 1 Jan 2025)
Be owned by a Next Gen ownership group (at least four people, with at least 30% new or under-40 owners)

Bonuses include $50,000 for the first Next Gen horse home in each of the Harness Million 2YO races (colts & geldings, fillies, trotters), and a $5,000 second start bonus for eligible 2YOs (capped at 90 horses).

"We have to have that information by October 1," says Peden, "horses will not be eligible unless the necessary paperwork is completed."

To find out more about Next Gen click here

Any questions can be directed to cameron@hrnz.co.nz