Manawatu upping its game in 2024

More meetings, higher stakes, improved facilities and more competitive racing - that's what the Manawatu Harness Racing Club is pledging for the next season.

The club will host 18 meetings from its Palmerston North Raceway, from October through to May.

"That's six more than last year and back at the same level we were pre-Covid," says Manawatu HRC President Dan Lynch.

At all meetings there'll be minimum stakes of $10,000 per race, with HRNZ's contribution being complimented by the Club itself.

"Initially we were thinking $6,000 and then $8000 but now we've decided to go to $10,000," says Lynch," we need to be able to attract horse from other regions, specially northern trainers and a select few from the South Island and we did not see running $6000 or $8000 races as being conducive to achieving that goal."

More of the races will be shorter distances too, mainly over 2000 metres.

"We have had feedback from trainers and other licence-holders that 2500 metre races on the second days of our meetings was not preferred ... that the horses do not back up well."

"We will be favouring 2000 metres on both days."

Putting on 'like for like' races is also a priority.

"Where possible we want to avoid racing Ratings 35-39 against higher-rated horses regardless of field size unless the race will not get off the ground."

"We might not get the best horses in the country here but we want to ensure there's exciting close racing."

Infrastructure at the raceway is also undergoing a major upgrade, starting with new lights. Stage 1, thanks to funding from the local Central Energy Trust, has been approved.

"There will be a small number of lights in the first instance and when they are up and going and we know what works we will then proceed to completing the rest."

"We are also looking to resurface the track, improve track drainage, improve heating in the public area and explore replacing the current mobile."

And with a new emphasis on delivering more content through their social media channels Manawatu is keen to tap into the local student population at Massey University and broaden its reach to Wellington and other areas.

"We need to hold enough meetings to make it viable for local trainers but we also need to get young people involved and also engage new owners through syndicates and the like."

Overall, with its new initiatives in the pipeline, Lynch is confident the club is heading in the right direction.

"The Club has a strong financial base, carries no debt and owns its own facility."