New Premier Meetings Start Thu 13 Aug
The GRNZ Board has approved the framework for monthly Premier Meetings which will host many of our Group and Feature races as well as providing enhanced stakes across the whole meeting.
The first Premier Meeting is set for Addington on Thursday 13 August and will see the running of the 2020 Canterbury Futurity Final for $27,465, the GRNZ Nationals Middle Distance Final (520m) and the GRNZ Nationals Distance Final (732m). The latter two will both carry stake money of $20,000 and will be run as Invitation races.
Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic saw the cancellation of the Australian Nationals Grand Final night, the individual states wanted to retain their choreographed "State Finals Night" on SKY Channel that was so successful last year. Australia again invited NZ to take part in this on Thursday 13 August and due to the short lead time, the decision was made to make these Invitation Finals so that heats would not be required.
Stakes for the supporting races at Premier meetings will All be boosted by $3,500 above the minimum stakes schedule. $360 of this boost will go to providing a $100 stake to runners finishing 5th through 8th, with the other $3,140 going to the first four placings.
Contenders will get to contest a 2020 Oaks and 2020 Derby
Covid-19 meant it was not possible to run a Derby or Oaks in the 2019/20 racing season, however, the Board has ensured that R/A greyhounds from that season will be given their chance in these glamour events.
The $45,000 2020 NZ Oaks Final will run at Addington on Thursday 27 August, with heats the week prior and the $45,000 2020 NZ Derby Final will be run at Cambridge on Thursday 10 September with heats on 3 September.
A compact list of all GRNZ dates for the new season is available as a pdf here
