Prizemoney Increased for NZ Stakes Races

Media Release - Tuesday January 25

The Board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has announced further stakes increases.

An increase of $2.4 million has been allocated for the period of 3 April until 26 August 2022 and includes stakes lifts across the board.

As outlined in July when announcing the $7 million injection into stakes NZTR Chairman Cameron George reemphasised that the NZTR Board has created a rolling funding policy.

“As opposed to announcing increases across a full racing season, this policy enables the Board to provide increased funding to the industry off the back of good performance. We are delivering off money earned, not anticipated earnings,” George said.

“We are operating in a different environment and our decisions regarding stakes increases are designed to be both strategic and sustainable.

“In the Board’s view the traditional blanket approach to funding will not generate greater returns to the overall industry.

“It is important that we invest wisely, into those parts of our racing calendar which will encourage growth in both wagering and participation. This is a strategic pattern, and one that we will continue to execute and ultimately create opportunities from, particularly in our strongest performing times.”

George said that this phase of funding will see a significant increase across the period outlined and an additional increase into stakes at the Grand National Carnival at Riccarton in August.

“This carnival stimulates interest in winter racing and again this demonstrates our Board’s new thinking around strategically investing in parts of the calendar which are not only important to the racing industry, but also have the potential to provide growth in returns through wagering interest,” he said.

The prizemoney increases from 3 April will be as follows:

Industry Days –

Advertisement

• R74 - $11,000 to $12,000

• R65, MAAT, 2,3&4YO and Maidens - $10,000 to $12,000

Feature Days –

• Open - $32,500 to $35,000

• R74 - $27,500 to $30,000

• 3&4YO - $25,000 to $30,000

• R65, MAAT, 2YO - $22,500 to $30,000

• Maiden - $10,000 to $15,000

The NZTR Board will consider the next round of prizemoney increases following a mid-year review of NZTR finances in February.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Coolmore Favs get the Flemington Straight Experience in Jump Outs
Beiwacht, Beadman and Skyhook, three of the top four in the market for next month’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes had a jump out down the Flemington straight on Friday with Beadman quite the eye-catcher.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.