Cover image of Waikato Thoroughbred Racing
The future shape of New Zealand racing’s infrastructure has been placed under the spotlight following the release of Project Stamina, an independent review recommending sweeping changes to the country’s thoroughbred and harness racing venue network.
Commissioned by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and TAB NZ, the report found the industry had become 'over-venued and under-capitalised', with resources spread across more facilities than could be sustainably supported given changes in horse populations, participant numbers and wagering demand.
At the centre of the proposal is a move towards fewer, better-resourced racing and training venues, allowing greater investment to be directed into facilities considered capable of supporting the industry’s long-term needs.
Major changes proposed across the network
Under the shared One Equine View response from NZTR and HRNZ, 39 venues would remain within the national network, while five others would undergo further business case assessments before their future is determined.
A further 19 venues have been recommended to exit the network, including seven current racecourses.
For thoroughbred racing, Rotorua and Trentham have been identified as venues proposed to leave the network, while the dual-code venues of Gore, Hāwera and Ōamaru would also no longer host race meetings.
Ōtaki, Tauherenikau and Wingatui would continue as thoroughbred venues but would cease conducting harness racing.
The report also recommends business case assessments for five venues, including Te Rapa and the Cambridge Synthetic track, with both linked to the proposed Waikato Greenfields development.
One of the most significant recommendations is the proposed removal of Trentham, a decision that would leave New Zealand's capital city Wellington without a thoroughbred racecourse.
Any transition would coincide with the planned return of racing to Awapuni, which has faced its own challenges following redevelopment of its track, with reopening currently scheduled for late 2027.
Rotorua’s future would also depend on the establishment of a suitable Waikato Greenfields site.
A blueprint shaped by industry consultation
Prepared by consultancy RCP, Project Stamina represents the first cross-code infrastructure strategy developed for New Zealand racing.
The National Masterplan was shaped through more than 50 workshops and meetings involving clubs, participant groups and industry organisations, while also drawing on previous strategic reviews, including the Messara Report.
Its recommendations are based around aligning racing and training infrastructure with where horses, participants and racing activity are currently concentrated.
The review highlights the need to improve race-day reliability, field sizes, wagering performance and the overall standard of facilities, arguing the existing venue network no longer reflects the modern realities of the industry.
The One Equine View response represents the shared position of NZTR and HRNZ, outlining where the two codes align with the Masterplan, where differences remain, and the priorities considered most important moving forward.
The position takes into account future meeting requirements, existing investment priorities and the different operational needs of both racing codes.
Consultation to help determine the next steps
Despite the scale of the proposed changes, NZTR and HRNZ have stressed that Project Stamina does not immediately trigger venue closures.
Instead, the report begins a consultation and implementation process, with discussions to be held with clubs directly affected by the recommendations before any formal decisions are made.
Implementation is expected to occur over several years, supported by detailed business cases, investment planning and ongoing engagement with clubs, participants and wider industry stakeholders.
Russell Warwick | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
NZTR Chair Russell Warwick said Project Stamina provided a pathway for the industry to better prepare for the future.
“This is about ensuring New Zealand racing has the infrastructure it needs to thrive for decades to come. Project Stamina provides a clear, evidence-based roadmap that puts the long-term interests of the industry first, while keeping the welfare of the horse at the centre of the network.”
“This is about ensuring New Zealand racing has the infrastructure it needs to thrive for decades to come.” - Russell Warwick
Warwick said maintaining the current structure was not a viable option.
“Doing nothing is not an option. Our infrastructure must reflect today's racing landscape and be capable of supporting future growth. This plan gives us the opportunity to invest where it will deliver the greatest long-term benefit for participants, horses and the wider industry.”
HRNZ Chair Grant Jarrold said the project demonstrated an important level of cooperation between the two racing codes.
Grant Jarrold | Image courtesy of harness Racing New Zealand
“NZTR and HRNZ have worked collaboratively together through this significant body of work with Project Stamina, with each code contributing their specific perspectives to the development of One Equine View. While each code has its own operational needs, we recognise that many venues and investment decisions are interconnected.”
Jarrold said the report provided a framework for future decision-making.
“This is not simply another review. It provides a unified direction that links strategy, investment and implementation, giving the industry greater certainty about the future.”
“It provides a unified direction that links strategy, investment and implementation, giving the industry greater certainty about the future.” - Grant Jarrold
Wood warns focus must remain on track quality
Cambridge trainer Chris Wood believes the industry must carefully consider the impact of closing more venues while existing tracks continue to face significant challenges.
Wood acknowledged there is a need for change, but questioned whether reducing the number of venues would place further pressure on facilities that are already struggling to provide consistent racing surfaces.
“We can't keep shutting tracks down with the surfaces left to race on here in New Zealand. Our tracks are sub-standard and at some of our race courses decisions are being made by people who have no idea or no vested interest.”
“We can't keep shutting tracks down with the surfaces left to race on here in New Zealand. Our tracks are sub-standard and at some of our race courses decisions are being made by people who have no idea or no vested interest.” - Chris Wood
Wood believes investment priorities must include protecting the quality of the venues that remain, rather than focusing solely on other areas of industry funding.
“Stake money is great, but we need money held back for tracks and maintenance.”
Chris Wood | Image courtesy of Race Images
He said synthetic tracks have not been embraced with recent fields very light.
“I don't have the problem with the Poly, it does its job and saves the grass tracks a bit, but you've got to be careful you don't take away winter racing, because there are horses that are bred to be winter gallopers, and you don't want to see the demise of them, because there's no winter tracks to race on.”
Wood said some previous track upgrades had not delivered the results required and believed future investment needed to be properly planned and executed.
“Te Aroha spent a lot of money getting that camber right, but while they were doing it, they should have put a drainage system that was going to work. It makes it hard for those clubs to compete and have a decent surface, but if you're not going to do it properly when you do it, you might as well not do it at all.”
He pointed to recent challenges at several venues as evidence that the industry needed to strengthen the tracks it intends to retain.
“Hawke's Bay has had a lot of work done on them, and nothing's gone right, Awapuni has had major issues and we have let a great trials track like Te Teko go.
"All of a sudden we haven't got the ammunition as far as track-wise goes to be competitive and to keep racing going and flowing smoothly through the winter and through the summer, to be honest.
“That’s what worries me about closing more tracks, warranted some probably need to be, but we have to get the tracks we have right and spend money on them properly to do a proper job.”
Hawke's Bay racecourse | New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
With fewer venues potentially carrying a greater workload under Project Stamina, Wood said ensuring those facilities were properly maintained would be critical.
“With the new report it makes it so important that we get the tracks right that we keep, they are going to be under the pump at times, there is no doubt about that.”
He added that while stronger stakes were welcomed across the industry, infrastructure could not be overlooked.
“We can't squander it all on prize money, and as a trainer I naturally love the great stake money but we need to future proof our tracks. If we don't have good surfaces to race on, we won't be racing. It’s more important than ever with these proposals that we get the tracks we will be using right, have the required money spent on them and not just band-aid, patch-up jobs which just doesn't work.”
