Minimum stakes protected in revised NZTR programme
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has confirmed its stakes settings for the 2026/27 season, with minimum stakes protected but reductions made across much of the black-type and innovation race programme.
NZTR has budgeted $104 million for stakes and bonuses for the new season, following last week's confirmation of industry funding.
That represents a reduction from the $108.97 million in stakes paid during the 2025/26 season, although minimum stakes across all non-black-type grades will remain at their existing levels.
NZTR General Manager Racing Mitch Lamb said maintaining those minimums had been a priority when determining where the reduced funding would be absorbed.
"To be able to protect minimum stakes across all our non-black-type races, given the funding circumstances, is a positive outcome," Lamb said.
"This provides important certainty for owners, trainers and other participants as they plan for the season ahead.
"The changes have been concentrated across selected black-type, innovation and other additionally funded races. We have taken a targeted and selective approach, particularly across the Group One programme, taking into account the potential impacts of each change."
A net $3.17 million reduction will be made across those categories, with Group One races accounting for $1.357 million of the cuts.
Group Two funding will reduce by $830,125, Group Three by $235,700 and Listed races by $151,050.
Innovation race funding will fall by $1.085 million, while NZTR will increase its contribution towards slot racing by $500,000, in line with the original funding structure announced for The NZB Kiwi.
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing's own stakes contributions will soften the impact of some of the reductions, particularly across several of the country's major Group One races.
"ATR continues to make a substantial contribution to stakes, and its support is greatly appreciated by NZTR," Lamb said.
Two of the five innovation races introduced in recent seasons will disappear altogether, with the Wairere Falls Classic and Karapiro Classic not continuing in 2026/27 after NZTR determined they had not achieved their intended impact.
The Aotearoa Classic, Remutaka Classic and Southern Alps Challenge will continue at reduced stakes, with NZTR indicating it remains committed to establishing the three races as permanent fixtures on the racing calendar.
The country's richest race, The NZB Kiwi, will retain its previously announced $4.5 million stake this season, with a further $1 million available in bonuses to eligible horses that have won designated lead-up races.
"The investment made by slot holders was based on the structure already agreed for The NZB Kiwi, and the Board considered it important that NZTR honour that commitment," Lamb said.
"The race has delivered significant commercial and promotional value for New Zealand racing. However, beyond this season, NZTR will undertake a full review of its future structure and investment."
That review leaves the longer-term future of The NZB Kiwi uncertain, with its continuation beyond this season likely to depend on the appetite of slot holders to remain involved.
Lamb said the new settings were designed to protect the foundations of the domestic racing programme while concentrating reductions in areas considered better able to absorb them.
"These decisions protect the foundation of our racing programme, provide participants with clarity for the season ahead and target reductions where we believe they can be best absorbed," he said.
NZTR will publish the revised stakes for individual black-type, innovation and additionally funded races on its website in the coming days.
