There will be 16 fewer race meetings in New Zealand next season in a bid to maintain field sizes.
NZ Thoroughbred Racing’s Matthew Hall said the reduction for 2016/17 was in line with the strategic plan released last year.
“We have to cater for the horse population and maintain average field sizes and also provide a better platform for distribution of prize money,” Hall said.
“A minimum of $20,000, outside of maidens, for feature days is made possible by fewer races.”
Seven meetings have been cut from the South Island next season, five from the central districts and four from the northern regions.
“We are the first to acknowledge that the average field sizes in the south have been terrific in the last 12 months and we will continue to monitor that,” Hall said.
Hall said there had been a two to four per cent reduction in the foal crop and by taking meetings out now, there would be a three to five year correction period to address some of the funding issues.
He said NZTR was not planning to make any further dramatic reductions in the next two to three years.
