NZ racing calendar confirms bumper late summer schedule
New Zealand’s richest races are set to take centre stage once again after New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing confirmed its 2026/27 Racing Calendar, featuring 310 thoroughbred meetings and a packed late-summer schedule headlined by more than NZD $8 million in feature race prize money.
The calendar, released by the TAB NZ Dates Committee, locks in another lucrative season built around Ellerslie’s growing status as the country’s premier racing venue.
Among the highlights will be the $4 million NZB Kiwi, New Zealand’s richest race, which is expected to return to Champions Day at Ellerslie in March alongside the $1.25 million New Zealand Derby.
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The Auckland track will also host the lucrative TAB Karaka Millions meeting in January, featuring the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO and the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO.
NZTR General Manager Racing Mitch Lamb said the calendar represented a significant collaborative effort across the industry as racing continues to adapt to changing infrastructure and scheduling demands.
“The racing calendar is the backbone of our season and there has been a huge amount of work across the industry to get us to this point,” he said.
“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.
“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.
“Our clubs were active in their submissions post the release of the draft calendar, and whilst not all submissions can be incorporated, it was great to see collaborative efforts on multiple fronts between individual clubs – we thank all of them for their efforts.”
Harness racing’s flagship slot race, The Race by Grins, worth close to $1.25 million, is also set to return to Cambridge Raceway, further strengthening the upper North Island’s grip on the country’s biggest wagering events.
The release of the calendar confirms 310 thoroughbred meetings for the season, two more than originally scheduled this year, while also marking the return of racing to Hastings and the continued absence of racing at Awapuni while redevelopment works continue.
The concentration of New Zealand’s richest races into a short period between January and April is expected to again generate strong wagering turnover, with Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting, Champions Day and the New Zealand Derby remaining key pillars of the country’s racing calendar.
