Next Gen bonuses top $100,000

Next Gen bonuses have now reached $100,000 for the 2026 season.

A total of 20 2YOs have had their second starts and therefore earned their $5000 bonuses. Of that total $4000 goes to the owner and $1000 to the trainer.

They are the first payouts under the scheme since it was launched in December 2024 to encourage young people and newcomers into racehorse ownership. 

Funding for the scheme, which is administered by HRNZ in partnership with TAB NZ and NZB Standardbred, has been secured for three years. 

The bonus is capped at 90 horses per year and a maximum payout of $450,000.

To be eligible all horses had to be purchased at the 2025 National Yearling Sales and qualify for Next Gen through their sire, trainer or ownership group. 

Under the scheme the 2YOs are paid $5000 after their second career start and the first Next Gen eligible horse across the line in the three NZB Harness Million 2YO races (Fillies, Colts and Geldings and Trotters) at Addington in October will be awarded a $50,000 bonus (if paid into the series). The owner(s) will get $35,000, the trainer $10,000 ands the breeder $5000.

The 20 horses are : 

Coal Fire
Princess Kreka
Validation
Tour Party
Queen Of Troy 
Tiare Magic
Daisy Bay
Supermodelle
Bamm Bamm
Leon Galleon
Baileys Beauty
Chiggsy
Suva Baby
Donovan
Travel Agent
Ellie Diamond
Apollo Eleven
The Sweetest Catch
Duke Of Bourbon
La Venture

Of the 20, Tour Party is the leading pacer, with four wins to open his career for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety while the Dylan and Jo Ferguson-trained Apollo Eleven has been a stand out in the trotting ranks, with three wins from four starts. 

Both have been Group 1 winners, with Tour Party taking out the Breckon Farms Cardigan Bay Stakes in March and Apollo Eleven winning  May's IRT Young Guns Easton Light Classic, both at Alexandra Park. 

By October 1, 2026 Harness Racing New Zealand must be notified of the trainer details and the ownership group for any horse bought at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. They will be 2YOs as of January 1, 2027. 

At the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale there were 15 automatically eligible Next Gen horses through their sires. They will also eligible for second start and Harness Million bonuses as 2YOs in 2027. 

To see more about Next Gen click here