NZTR’s Innovation fund has added a spark to winter racing in the north with the introduction of the ITM/GIB Northern Region Winter Championships.

The initiative was developed by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Waikato Racing Club and Whangarei Racing Club. The Championships Finals’ race meeting will be rotated annually between the Clubs in order of Whangarei Racing Club, Waikato Racing Club and Auckland Thoroughbred Racing.

The Championships will commence with the first qualifying races at Te Rapa on 21 May, culminating in five $60,000 finals at Ruakaka on Saturday, 16 July.

“After two years of very disrupted winter racing in the northern region the club is very excited to be the first to host the ITM/GIB Northern Region Winter Championship and greatly appreciates the addition of the local sponsorship support for 2022, led by Shayne Heape of Whangarei ITM,” Chair of Whangarei Racing Club Mike Beazley said.

“NZTR is to be congratulated on the creation of the Innovation Fund which has allowed various racing initiatives to be developed across New Zealand by the clubs.  The success of the ODT Southern Mile series has already demonstrated how well clubs understand their own regional needs,” he said.

Run on a similar qualifying series to the Championships and culminating in one final at Wingatui at the beginning of March, the ODT Southern Mile saw TAB NZ turnover on finals day reach $2.05 million, compared with $1.62 million the previous year.  The series also saw an increase in starter numbers and significant rise in average turnover across the 10 qualifying races.

In the two months leading to Saturday, 16 July, there will be qualifying races throughout the northern region for the five different Winter Championships. Entry to each final will be subject to qualification in heats across venues that include Te Rapa, Avondale, Pukekohe, Matamata, Ruakaka, Cambridge, and Tauranga.

Great opportunities exist for all classes of horses in the Winter Championships. There will be a final for - open class sprinters; open class stayers; a progressive final for the intermediate class horse who is rising through the ranks starting with only one win at nomination time; and separate finals for three-year-olds and two-year-olds run at set weights and penalties.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s Executive General Manager Racing and Operations Craig Baker has led the development of the concept and is confident trainers will embrace the series.

“Given the prizemoney on offer we expect there will be strong participation,” he said.

“The five finals will make for a very competitive race meeting at Ruakaka that will encourage punter interest and be a winter highlight for flat racing in the northern region.”