New Synthetic Venues Added to NZ Calendar

Meanwhile, the number of venues planned to be used for racing for the coming 2021-22 New Zealand racing season is 35, which includes the new Riccarton Park synthetic track. In its first season of use, there are seven meetings scheduled for the Riccarton Park synthetic track from May 2022 onwards. The Cambridge synthetic track, which will host its first race meeting on 19 May 2021, will be utilised 12 times in the 2021-22 season. The increase of racing held at both synthetic tracks has resulted in the relocation of licenses from other venues. “The introduction of synthetic track racing is a key part of NZTR’s Venue Plan, and its impact was clearly signalled in that plan,” stated NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry. “The movement of meetings to synthetic tracks will relieve pressure on turf tracks that would otherwise be used in winter.” One of the significant changes made in relation to the 2020-21 racing season following the COVID-19 lockdown was the movement of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival to two weeks later than has been traditional. “The view was that this delayed start to the Carnival was successful and there was a benefit to holding these meetings later in future season. This change has been incorporated into the final calendar,” Saundry said. The full calendar can be found here.

Cambridge's synthetic track (pic: Trish Dunell)