Two new spring grassroots racing series in September/October

Race conditions are available for two new series for lower-graded trotters and pacers.

The Canterbury Plains Spring Series will start later this month with heats at Addington and Methven before two $25,000 finals at Ashburton and Addington in October while the new Cambridge Rewards will feature three $15,000 races - two pacing and one trotting - on Thursday, October 29.

CANTERBURY PLAINS SPRING SERIES

Based on the previous Canterbury Plains Series, the Spring Series will be for both R35-4YO and older Pacers and Trotters.

Five $10,000 Heats for the Pacers will be held on :  

September 30 - Addington
October 4- Methven
October 7 - Addington
October 11 - Methven
October 14 - Addington

A $25,000 Final will be at Ashburton on October 26.

Three $10,000 Heats for the Trotters will be held on :

September 30 - Addington
October 7 - Addington
October 14 - Addington

The $25,000 Final will be held at Addington on October 23.

THE CAMBRIDGE REWARDS

The Cambridge Rewards races are for 4YO+ Rated R35 - R45 trotters and pacers and eligible 4YO and older Non Winners, as at 1 September, 2026.

There will be three $15,000 races to be run on 29 October 2026. To be eligible a horse must have a minimum of three starts in the preceding seven meetings (September 10 - October 22).

Two Pacing Rewards will be run (with fields of 13 horses) while there will be one Special Handicap Trotting Rewards race run, with a maximum of 14 starters.  

Selection for the respective Rewards races will be on a points basis, provided horses have met the three-start eligibility threshold. The three Rewards races will be for race winners only.
 
Full conditions of all series can be found in the Racing Schedules and Conditions section of the HRNZ website.

To view the conditions click here