Refined Country Championship for 2027

A refreshed Country Championship and Country Cups programme has been finalised for the 2026/27 season.

It will comprise two distinct categories - The Country Championship and the Club Country Cups.

There will be 18 Country Championship races, each carrying stakes of $25,000, with all races serving as qualifying events for the $100,000 Country Championship Final on May 21, 2027 at Addington Raceway. The series will also feature a Golden Ticket race at Cambridge Raceway on April 2, 2027 providing a direct pathway into the Final.

A further 20 Club Country Cups will be conducted with stakes of $15,000 with Clubs continuing to have the opportunity to increase stake levels in consultation with the HRNZ Bureau.

"It creates a more focused series that enhances the value of qualifying races while ensuring HRNZ's investment delivers the strongest possible outcomes for participants, clubs and the wider industry," says HRNZ's Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.

Championship qualifying races will commence in December 2026, creating a more concentrated series leading into the Final and placing greater emphasis on performances throughout the qualification period.

"The revised programme also allies with the broader realignment of New Zealand's feature racing calendar during late summer and autumn. This approach provides clearer progression opportunities for emerging free-for-all and open handicap horses, while ensuring the Country Championship complements the wider feature racing programme," says Peden.

Conditions for the 2027 Country Championship are currently being finalised though the minimum start requirement is expected to be reduced to two.

All enquiries should be directed to matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz

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