New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has locked in a 310-meeting schedule for the 2026/27 season, with the industry hopeful the new calendar structure can help drive stronger wagering outcomes and better engagement across the country.
The calendar, confirmed by the TAB NZ Dates Committee under the Racing Industry Act, includes two additional meetings compared to the current season, including three extra Saturday programs as NZTR continues to place greater emphasis on maximising turnover on the sport’s strongest wagering days.
A major positive for the season ahead is the long-awaited return of racing to Hastings, something NZTR General Manager Racing Mitch Lamb said was significant for both the local community and the wider industry.
“Seeing racing return to Hastings is a real positive for the industry and local racing community,” Lamb said.
Lamb also highlighted the importance of the relationship between NZTR, Entain and TAB NZ in shaping the calendar, with wagering performance continuing to play a central role in scheduling decisions.
“The calendar process is a great example of the constructive working relationship between the racing codes, Entain and TAB NZ, as well as the valuable input received from our Clubs and industry organisations,” Lamb said.
NZTR confirmed the dates were developed in close collaboration with Entain, with feedback from the wagering operator helping influence the positioning of meetings and broader scheduling strategy.
The organisation said the additional Saturday meetings reflected a continued focus on maximising wagering and audience opportunities, while the calendar had also been shaped alongside ongoing work around venue categorisation and reviews into stakes and club funding models.
Racing jurisdictions should absolutely be leaning into WSP’s to help inform their decisions – after all, they have the greatest access to consumers and their behaviour.
While Hastings returns, Awapuni remains absent from the calendar as work continues toward a long-term solution for the troubled venue. NZTR confirmed independent technical reviews found the existing soil profile could not consistently deliver the safety and reliability standards required for a premier racing surface.
The closure continues to create challenges for the Central Districts region, impacting participants, programming and clubs, although NZTR and RACE are targeting a return to a metro-standard Awapuni track by late 2027.
Lamb acknowledged the changing landscape meant flexibility would remain important moving forward.
“Next season presents some obvious challenges for us when it comes to calendar and dates planning, and no doubt the evolving nature of the racing landscape will demand that we continue to be adaptable when we approach this each and every season,” he said.
NZTR also noted that while the calendar itself had now been finalised, broader industry funding arrangements for the 2026/27 season were still being worked through.
