"Encouraging start" to Friday Night Lights

Harness racing's new Friday Night Lights initiative is off to an "encouraging start" with turnover topping $1.5m across Auckland and Addington on Friday night.

When compared year on year, Addington and Auckland's combined turnover was up over seven per cent up on the corresponding meetings last year.

"Because there was one fewer race at Addington on Friday than last year we have looked at the first nine races at each meeting, and then added Auckland's turnover and the joint figure is 7.35 per cent up," says HRNZ's Chief Executive Officer Brad Steele.

Total turnover for the 18 races was $1,577,358.

Friday was the first Auckland-Addington double-header since the Friday Night Lights concept was launched. The dual meetings see a domestic harness race every 15 minutes during prime time, with Trackside producing a sleek new show as it tries to "own" Friday nights.

"So far the reception to what people are seeing on Trackside is overwhelmingly positive," says Steele, "the show is certainly slick and informative."

At Cambridge and Addington the previous Friday (July 5) turnover was $1,480,980, an increase of 2 per cent on 2023.

“We are very pleased with the first two weeks, says Steele, "we were not anticipating a ‘hockey stick’ trajectory, more so a flat result, but that has not happened.”

"It is very early days but it was pleasing that the total turnover on the two Fridays was greater than two clubs racing on a Thursday and Friday."

HRNZ is committed to regularly reporting turnovers as it rolls out its "The Future Starts Now" strategy for the 2024-25 season.