Harness Racing NSW announces changes for 2024 Breeders Challenge

3 April 2024

The highly successful New South Wales Breeders Challenge is set to be better than ever before with an injection of an additional $1.2million into the series over the next three years.

These changes will be implemented for the 2024 racing season in an aim to deliver back to participants, with this commitment aligning to Harness Racing NSW’s recently published Strategic Plan.

Prizemoney for this year’s Major Series qualifying heats will be increased to $15,000 for each race.

Additionally, HRNSW will also adopt a prizemoney split of 85 per cent to owners and 10 per cent to trainers - the same split seen across standard racing.

Other stakes remain the same, with drivers, stallion nominators and foal nominators all paid five per cent of prizemoney. This increase to the money paid out on each race equates to 110 per cent of the advertised stake.

Following vital industry feedback on the series, HRNSW Chief Executive Officer Peter Buckman acknowledges the value the Breeders Challenge has in the Australasian harness racing landscape.

“We acknowledge and thank the industry and Kindred Bodies for their constructive feedback and recognise the value the Breeders Challenge has as one of Australasia’s leading futurities,” said Buckman.

“This is why we have boosted the value of the heats for the Major Series, plus increasing both the owners and trainers percentage meets the industry standard and recognises the support that both groups have in ensuring that the Breeders Challenge is kept to such a high standard.

“We see these changes as the first step in a staged change process of the Breeders Challenge and incentive schemes.

“The next step will see a review of the bonus structure and funding allocation to better incentivise current and potential participants.”

Adding to this announcement, HRNSW will retain the 20 per cent bonus for True Blue-eligible horses that earn prizemoney during the Breeders Challenge series (not including the Blue Series).

The Blue Series Finals will again be run as Group 2 events, the Four-Year-Old Major Series Finals Group 3 and all four Major Series Finals for two and three-year-old pacers will carry Group 1 status.

Full Terms and Conditions for the 2024 Breeders Challenge will be published in May.

The Breeders Challenge Series will be programmed at the same time in 2024, with the Regional Series to be reduced to a single race for each division:

Blue Series

Heats               2YO and 3YO ($9,996)               Monday 26 August 2024            Menangle

Finals               2YO and 3YO ($100,000)           Saturday 7 September 2024      Menangle

Major Series

Heats               2YO ($15,000)                           Tuesday 17 September 2024     Menangle

                        2YO ($15,000)                           Wednesday 18 September 2024 Bathurst

                        2YO ($15,000)                           Friday 20 September 2024         Wagga

                        2YO ($15,000)                           Friday 20 September 2024         Newcastle

                        2YO ($15,000) (2nd Round)       Tuesday 1 October 2024            Menangle

                        3YO ($15,000)                           Tuesday 24 September 2024     Menangle

                        3YO ($15,000)                           Wednesday 25 September 2024 Bathurst

                        3YO ($15,000)                           Friday 27 September 2024         Wagga

                        3YO ($15,000)                           Friday 27 September 2024         Newcastle

                        3YO ($15,000) (2nd Round)       Tuesday 8 October 2024            Menangle

                        4YO Mares ($25,000)                Saturday 12 October 2024         Menangle

                        4YO E&G ($25,000)                   Saturday 19 October 2024         Menangle

 

Semi Finals       2YO ($25,000)                           Saturday 12 October 2024         Menangle

                        3YO ($25,000)                           Saturday 19 October 2024         Menangle

Finals               2YO ($150,000)                         Sunday 27 October 2024           Menangle

                        3YO ($150,000)                         Sunday 27 October 2024           Menangle

                        4YO ($50,000)                           Sunday 27 October 2024           Menangle

Regional Series

Finals              2YO and 3YO ($30,000)             Friday 29 November 2024         Newcastle

                        2YO and 3YO ($30,000)             Wednesday 4 December 2024   Bathurst