The jumps racing season is fast-approaching and many of New Zealand’s highweight jockeys will be back on track on Sunday at Matamata, with an added incentive of the Highweight Jockeys Bonus Series.

Highweight events offer races to jockeys above the average weight for flat racing, with horses carrying a minimum of 67kg without claiming allowances. Often these are used as a platform for jumps jockeys to gain fitness and prepare to go over fences and longer distances.

In the series sponsored by Saddlery Warehouse, jockeys will be able to accumulate points across the 18 highweight races on the calendar, spanning from the 23^rd of March to the 19^th of September. The series will span across the Northern and Central Districts, run in conjunction with jump meetings and flat meetings. 

After the final race at Te Aroha, the winning jockey will receive $2000, with $1000 for second and $500 for third.

The series will kick off Sunday 23 March at Matamata with two highweight events programmed.

See the full schedule below for currently programmed races:

23 March - Matamata RC - MDN HWT 2000m
23 March - Matamata RC - MDN HWT 1600m
4 April - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - R65 Benchmark & JMPS HWT 2100m
4 April - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - MDN HWT 1600m
10 April - Waverly RC - MDN HWT - 2200m
10 April - Waverly RC - MDN HWT - 1650m
17 April - Matamata RC - R65 Benchmark HWT - 1600m
17 April - Matamata RC - MDN HWT - 1600m
30 April - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - MDN HWT - 2100m
30 April - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - JMP HWT - 2200
18 May - Egmont RC - MDN HWT - 2100m
18 May - Egmont RC - JMP HWT - 2100m
25 May - Auckland Thoroughbred Racing - R65 Benchmark & JMPS HWT - 2400m
25 May - Auckland Thoroughbred Racing - MDN HWT - 2200m
13 July - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - R75 & Jumps HWT Benchmark - 1600m
13 July - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - MDN HWT - 2100m
13 July - Woodville-Pahiatua RC - MDN HWT - 1600m

The final races of the series will take place at Te Aroha on 19 September with class and distances still to be determined.