New record turnover at Motukarara

Monday's Motukarara meeting was an all-time record-breaker.

The 13-race programme had total turnover of $1.994m, the highest ever for a grass track meeting in this country.

The figure eclipsed the previous record of $1.92m set at Westport's Boxing Day meeting in 2020.

"That's brilliant," says Banks Peninsula Trotting Club President Chris Brown.

"I've always thought that one day we'd break $2m and we got close."

Buoyed by a huge crowd, estimated to be at around 5000, and with the one extra race, turnover was up 22.5% on last year's meeting.

The day's feature the Paul Renwick Motukarara Christmas Cup, taken out by Colin De Filippi and Here's Herbie, attracted the most interest. It turned over $228,000, $67,000 more than last year.

Brown was quick to praise the hard work of many who helped make the day such a success including track manager Peter Clayton and secretary Nicky Lloyd.

Cambridge's Christmas Eve meeting also had a notable uplift in turnover.

With the meeting featuring an extra two races, the 12-race card saw turnover at $1.116m, up 23% on last year.

"We were delighted with how Cambridge went," says HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.

“It suggests the Look North strategy is moving in the right direction, and we’re now looking forward  to the New Year’s Eve Auckland Cup meeting.”

The $1m mark was also surpassed both days at Westport. Boxing Day was $1.432m (down 10.6%) while Sunday, December 28 was $1.062m (down 3.2%) and Gore's Saturday meeting (December 27) was $1.149m (down 16%).

"All in all this was an outstanding few days," says Peden, "and there are  reasons why some meetings were up and others were not."

"For instance Gore was on Trackside 2, not Trackside 1 and being on a Saturday was in direct competition with a congested Australasian thoroughbred schedule."

"Overall though it's been a very pleasing Christmas - New Year for us and a great way to head into 2026."