Horse racing could make a mid-year comeback

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) is exploring the viability of returning two former race dates to Richmond Park.

The popular two-day June meeting was last held in 2019 and became a Covid-19 casualty.

The Nelson Harness Racing Club is keen to get those days back and HRNZ head of racing and wagering, Matthew Peden, has confirmed they are looking at how they can come back for a second time during the year.

The club used to race on a Friday and Sunday in June, but Matthew says if the dates were to return it would more likely be on a Tuesday and Thursday in May.
That could mean winter racing giving way to autumn action, with May coming before June.

“I would say Friday would be hard to touch as I am not keen to disturb Friday Night Lights where Auckland and Addington race on the same nights.

“That has taken off, as we have been able to keep the audience engaged in a metro product throughout the night,” declares Matthew.

“So, tentatively, if it was to happen, I would say two dates mid-week for Nelson. It was a shame they lost those winter dates as country racing is incredible.”

Matthew has seen plenty of it in the past few weeks, going to Westport and Omakau and Cromwell in Central Otago before taking in both days at Richmond Park.

“Great settings. Great towns. These are meetings that are important to us,” declares the former bookmaker, who took up his HRNZ role last year.

His trip to Nelson got off to the best possible start with a horse he has an interest in, Seaside Pond, winning the first race at the meeting.

“I have always enjoyed having a share in a couple of horses that go round.
“I am pretty lucky to have some horses with really good trainers,” reveals the Sydneysider.

Really lucky actually, as he is involved with some of racing’s real high-flyers in a trotter called Bet N Win, which won seven races in a row on both sides of the Tasman over an 11 month stretch.

“In my role, being an owner helps me understand from their perspective, while I also try and consult with trainers to make sure the decisions we are making are the right ones,” says Matthew.

He enjoyed the relaxed Richmond atmosphere and also knows how much visiting trainers and drivers like being able to take it easy here before the races, after working hard over the past few months.

Canterbury owner-trainer Tim Trathen agreed.

“Everyone loved coming up here from Canterbury in winter. It is a bloody great track,” says the former Richmond horseman.

The first day of the January meeting felt a little like winter, cold and windy, but Sunday was a stunning day and drew a big holiday crowd.

The club attracted less than 100 horses both days, probably not helped by a meeting being staged at Ashburton just two days later.