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APRIL 25, 2024
Racing to Cambridge Cambridge has become the physical home of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. Its head office has moved almost 500 kilometres north from Petone to Dick St Cambridge and the move sees more than 45 employees find a new base in what was once the town’s police station. NZTR will continue to operate Petone as a satellite to the Cambridge Head Office until October when all its activity comes north.
The decision behind the move was not a hasty one. A small content and marketing team had operated out of Cambridge for seven years as a satellite of the Petone head office. The pull to move closer to the breeding and racing action in the central North Island eventually became was too strong for NZTR chief Bruce Sharrock not to consider. “This move is hugely significant for NZTR and
the Thoroughbred Racing industry,” he said. “While Wellington is the hub of economic and political activity in New Zealand, it was also the home of horse racing for many decades.” “The shift North has gradually happened over the past decade and with the large majority of our horses being bred and trained in the Waikato, it makes sense for NZTR to be immersed in the region to best support our industry and stakeholders.”
Established in 2003 as a merger with New Zealand Racing Conference, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is the governing body for thoroughbred horse racing in New Zealand. In 2023 nearly $1 billion in economic activity could be attributed to thoroughbred racing and the Waikato accounted for 48 per cent of that activity. More starters hail from the Waikato than any other region and more
than 45 per cent of the foal crop was born in the region. The industry generates more than 3500 full-time equivalent jobs in the province. The racing industry is enjoying a good run in Waipā – earlier this month the district hosted the biggest harness racing night event in the country. An artificial track on the outskirts of Cambridge has also been a major success for the thoroughbred industry.
Cambridge’s synthetic track was a New Zealand first when it opened in 2020 and has been used extensively for training and hosted its first race meeting in 2021.
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Bruce Sharrock