A new racing series over the time-honoured 1600m distance will start at the Otago Racing Club’s Boxing Day meeting at Wingatui.
The ORC, which will also host the final at Wingatui, is promoting the Otago Daily Times Southern Mile series, to be held by six clubs over four venues.
There will be 10 qualifying races, each run over 1600m, at the rating 65 and rating 74 level which caters for the most number of horses racing apart from maiden runners, and is designed to reward owners in intermediate grade with high stakes.
To be eligible for the $60,000 final, horses must have competed in at least one qualifying race.
Otago Racing Club chairman Murray Acklin is excited about the series.
"The ODT Southern Mile will attract horses from all over New Zealand with qualifying races at capacity," Acklin said.
"Stakes on offer total $377,000, an increase of up to 55% greater than last season and among the highest in this grade in the country."
Points will be allocated on the following basis: 10 points for first, eight for second, seven for third, six for fourth, five for fifth, four for sixth, three for seventh, two for eighth and one for ninth and 10th.
The field for the final with be selected from the horses with the highest number of points. In the event of horses being on the same number of points, preference will be given to heat winners.
The first two races, both with $35,000 stakes, are at Wingatui on Sunday.
Further races are at the Riverton Racing Club’s New Year’s Day meeting ($20,000), the Waikouaiti Racing Club’s meeting at Wingatui on January 15 (two, both $35,000), Canterbury Jockey Club meetings at Riccarton on January 29 ($35,000) and February 25 ($17,000), Otago racing at Wingatui on February 5 ($35,000), the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting at Riccarton on February 12 ($35,000), and the Southland Racing Club’s meeting at Ascot Park on February 19 ($35,000).
That will set the stage for the big final at Wingatui on March 5.
Allied Press group advertising manager Paul Dwyer said the newspaper was delighted to be part of the series.
"The ODT recognises the importance of racing in Otago and Southland," Dwyer said.
"We’ve demonstrated our commitment to the industry by running full preview coverage of all gallops meetings in the South, and there is nowhere else for punters to get that information.
"We are also investigating doing the same thing for harness racing, and will have full fields for Gore and Omakau meetings this month."
The ODT Southern Mile was going to be exciting, Dwyer said.
"It’s a great initiative from the Otago Racing Club and Love Racing.
"We are very keen to get behind it."
Meanwhile, the ORC is also looking forward to the running of the feature race at its Boxing Day meeting.
The James Hazlett Stakes open handicap sprint (1200m) is named after one of the great identities of the Otago club.
"He bought his first racehorse, Novice, in 1882," Acklin said.
"His many descendants played an active role in shaping the club’s future over many decades."
The listed race dates back to the 1880s and this year carries a stake of $60,000.
The first race on Sunday is at 12.47pm, and the main race is at 4.20pm.
Organisers hope a combination of good weather, exciting racing and entertainment for the family will lead to a crowd of 3000-plus. Vaccine passports will be required.
