Key Takeaways
- The Motukarara meeting on Monday broke the record for the highest turnover at a grass track meeting in the country, with a total of $1.994m.
- The meeting saw a 22.5% increase in turnover compared to last year, with the feature Paul Renwick Motukarara Christmas Cup attracting the most interest.
- Other meetings, such as Cambridge’s Christmas Eve meeting, also saw notable uplifts in turnover, with a 23% increase.
- The success of these meetings is seen as a positive sign for the industry, with HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden suggesting that the Look North strategy is moving in the right direction.
Introduction to the Record-Breaking Meeting
The Motukarara meeting on Monday was a historic event, with the 13-race programme achieving a total turnover of $1.994m, the highest ever recorded for a grass track meeting in the country. This figure eclipsed the previous record of $1.92m set at Westport’s Boxing Day meeting in 2020. The success of the meeting was largely due to the huge crowd in attendance, estimated to be around 5000, as well as the addition of an extra race. The day’s feature, the Paul Renwick Motukarara Christmas Cup, was taken out by Colin De Filippi and Here’s Herbie, and attracted the most interest, with a turnover of $228,000, a significant increase of $67,000 from last year.
Reaction to the Record-Breaking Turnover
The President of the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club, Chris Brown, was thrilled with the result, stating that it was "brilliant" and that he had always believed that the meeting had the potential to break the $2m mark. Brown was quick to praise the hard work of many individuals who contributed to the success of the day, including track manager Peter Clayton and secretary Nicky Lloyd. The increase in turnover was a significant 22.5% compared to last year’s meeting, and it is clear that the addition of an extra race and the large crowd in attendance played a major role in this success.
Other Notable Meetings
Other meetings held over the Christmas period also saw notable increases in turnover. The Cambridge Christmas Eve meeting, which featured an extra two races, saw a turnover of $1.116m, a 23% increase from last year. HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering, Matthew Peden, was delighted with the result, stating that it suggests the Look North strategy is moving in the right direction. The meeting’s success is a positive sign for the industry, and Peden is looking forward to the New Year’s Eve Auckland Cup meeting. The $1m mark was also surpassed at Westport’s Boxing Day meeting, with a turnover of $1.432m, although this was a decrease of 10.6% from last year.
Analysis of the Results
While some meetings saw significant increases in turnover, others did not fare as well. The Gore meeting on Saturday, December 27, saw a decrease of 16% in turnover, with a total of $1.149m. Peden suggested that this was due to the meeting being held on a Saturday, which put it in direct competition with a congested Australasian thoroughbred schedule. Additionally, the meeting was broadcast on Trackside 2, rather than Trackside 1, which may have also contributed to the decrease in turnover. Despite these factors, Peden was overall pleased with the results, stating that it had been an "outstanding few days" and a great way to head into 2026.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
In conclusion, the Motukarara meeting on Monday was a historic event, with a record-breaking turnover of $1.994m. The success of this meeting, as well as others held over the Christmas period, is a positive sign for the industry. The Look North strategy appears to be moving in the right direction, and HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering, Matthew Peden, is looking forward to the New Year’s Eve Auckland Cup meeting. While some meetings did not fare as well, the overall results are a great way to head into 2026, and it will be interesting to see how the industry continues to grow and develop in the coming year.
