There’s more than a name change in store for Harness Racing Waikato.
As of this month the Club, which is based at Cambridge Raceway will now be known as Waikato – BOP Harness Racing.
The BOP stands for Bay Of Plenty Harness Racing.
Harness Racing Waikato was formed with the amalgamation of the Cambridge and Te Awamutu Harness Racing Clubs in 2013.
Cambridge Raceway’s Business Development Manager, David Branch, said the Morrinsville Trotting Club and the Bay Of Plenty Harness Racing Club had agreed to the amalgamation of all the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Clubs.
He believed 90 per cent of the amalgamation had been born out of taking a pro-active approach to Harness Racing New Zealand’s announcement last year that it wanted top centralise and provincialise clubs.
“One of the really exciting things about amalgamating with the Morrinsville Trotting Club is that we are taking over the management of the Scott Reserve Training Centre in Morrinsville.
“With the latest stake increases at Alexandra Park, that announcement can only strengthen harness racing in the North Island. Hopefully trainers and owners further afield might now consider making the move to the Waikato. There is barn space available to trainers looking to make the move up here,” Branch said.
“The amalgamation is all about growing horse numbers in the region along with centralising our resources,” he added.
Branch also hinted major changes at Cambridge Raceway with the possibility of a brand new stabling complex and new businesses being erected on the site.
“We have to keep up with the times and model ourselves more like the Auckland Trotting Club or we will be left behind. Gone are the days of just letting tracks lay idle until race-day,” said Branch a former ATC employee.
He said the re-brand and the new logo (pictured) were just the start. Stake increases were also a must.
“There are several projects we have in mind but they have to have Board approval. Being a feeder Club and working closer with Dominique Dowding (CEO) and Regan Cotter (Racing Manager) is one area which will ensure better racing in the North Island.
“I worked under Dom for several years and she has taken the ATC to new levels. I really admire what she has done,” 27-year-old Branch said.
He also said he wanted to increase the awareness of the Harness Jewels in the upper North Island and really build up the 100th Jewels race at The Raceway next season.
“We have to be unique and get the crowd numbers up to where they once were – and beyond. If we don’t we will end up like the Wellington Sevens.
“It needs a fresh approach. If we don’t do something different and keep doing the same old, same old, then we may end up losing the hosting rights,” he said.
Branch, who is a former junior open and now amateur driver, said unless the club adapted it would be left behind.
“We are looking at other revenue streams and it would be good to get some young blood on our new committee. The ATC has shown great foresight promoting a 26-year-old to their racing Manager.
“Fifty per cent of the world’s population is under the age of 30 and I would say our race-night demographic currently averages 40-50-plus years of age. We are missing a massive gap in the market.
Along with a master plan for the future of the site, we are looking at potential tenants that could also get use of the facility but are not yet at a stage to announce anything,” said Branch.
