Turnovers at post lockdown high

Ahead of the upcoming Million Dollar Spring and New Zealand Cup week, Harness Racing New Zealand has been encouraged by its latest turnover figures.

“We have just had the strongest four meetings since lockdown and our weekly total was the best by over half a million dollars,” says HRNZ Racing and Marketing Manager Darrin Williams.

For Winton and Cambridge (Thursday), Addington (Friday), and Methven(Sunday) total turnover exceeded $3.9m.

Both Winton and Cambridge topped $700,000 with Addington on Friday at $1.13m and Methven’s opening grass track meeting of the season at $1.28m.

“Methven had the largest fields of the four, and that figure represents turnover of $7,318 per starter, with Addington at $10,413. They are great numbers for us,” says Williams.

This week there are five harness meetings, the most since lockdown, with two of the highlights being the Sires’ Stakes Final at Alexandra Park on Friday and the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday.

“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves,” says Williams, “but the signs are encouraging and people are obviously enjoying the racing right now even though there have been no crowds because of Covid.”

“And then in the weeks ahead we have some great racing lined up, the Harness Million and Sires’ Stakes Races and then Cup week - there is a lot to look forward to.”