The rise of the New Zealand thoroughbred industry over the past 12 months has been celebrated through media, as a result of dedication and creativity expressed particularly by the four finalists in the LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content.

This award in previous years has recognised organisations and people committed to presenting the best and brightest racing has to offer, both on course and behind the scenes. This year’s quartet of finalists have been no exception, with the winner to be announced at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards on September 8.

Dan Smith, NZTR’s Head of Marketing, Communications and Wagering Partnerships, emphasised and congratulated the quality and standard of this year’s entries.

“Recognising the contribution of our participants across the industry is important, and this award is a key demonstration of this at our awards evening,” Smith said.

“The broadness of the entries is always great to receive and it was another competitive process in finding our finalists for last season.”

Capturing some of the biggest highlights across the racing calendar for television, Trackside Premier was the showcase channel for the feature race meetings domestically and in Australia. Trackside Premier encapsulated the excitement of the likes of New Zealand Cup Week, Derby Day and Karaka Millions, with a combination of human-interest stories, parade ring analysis, and all the aftermath for winning connections through a world-class lens.

The glitz and glam of TAB Karaka Millions was the highlight of the Premier schedule this season, with a live five-hour broadcast exclusively from Ellerslie contributing positively to what was a record single meeting turnover, setting the bar high for Entain Media and mainstream platforms in the future and being a clear candidate for this award.

Such an extensive and professional production cannot go ahead without individuals such as Glen Bourne, who under his ‘Blow Up! Broadcasting’ banner, fulfilled a freelance television director role for Entain/Trackside and earned a deserved finalist position.

At the helm of crew of over 30 people, Glen Bourne assisted in delivering top-tier coverage of major carnivals across the country, while also producing the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales coverage for the third year in a row. Bourne specialises not only in production and management, but also studio and outside broadcast directing, camera operating and editing.

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing earned a finalist spot with their modern insight to renovating and opening the new StrathAyr surface at Ellerslie and staging several of the feature meetings including the Karaka Millions and Derby Day.

“During our renovation period, the team worked hard to keep our brand alive and kicking,” ATR’s Executive General Manager of Marketing, Olivia Kinley said.

“We needed to shift our marketing strategy to ensure the brand stayed front and centre in the minds of both Aucklanders and the industry, achieved by utilising a variety of platforms including social, print, video and blog content.”

These strategies included ATR’s innovative 89-page ‘magazine’ and ‘Keeping Track’ blog series, with the latter documenting the historic renovation of the Ellerslie racecourse, as well as updates across town at Pukekohe Park.

Our finalists covered television, social media and mainstream domestic radio, with SENZ’s The Mail Run a standout in the latter category. Presenting New Zealand’s premier racing news and preview radio show every Saturday morning, The Mail Run provided racing enthusiasts and punters with tips and updates from jockeys, trainers and experts ahead of the day’s racing.

The Mail Run offered special segments including ‘The Fast Lane’, a regular slot with the TAB, as well as interviews focussed on the important people behind the scenes in the thoroughbred industry such as owners and breeders. Featuring snippets of Australian racing at Caulfield, Flemington, Randwick and more amongst the Kiwi action, The Mail Run provided knowledgeable and insightful information for both sides of the Tasman.

LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution to Media, Digital & Content Finalists

• Auckland Thoroughbred Racing
• Blow Up! Broadcasting / Glen Bourne
• SENZ’s The Mail Run
• Trackside Premier