Arresting the decline – HRNZ rolls out $1.4 million breeding stimulus
Garrick Knight - Raceform • September 13th, 2025 8:30 AM • 6 min read
As standardbred breeding numbers trend perilously towards critical mass, large-scale initiatives are being rolled out across the sector.
Harness Racing New Zealand last week announced its Paddock To Podium concept, which is designed “reignite and grow” the dwindling foal crop.
The last two seasons have seen 12.2% and 11.2% year-on-year reductions on mares bred to an all-time low of 1552 last spring. That is down from 2205 just five years prior for an approximate loss of 30% of the country’s foal crop.
Schemes announced by HRNZ a few years ago – breeding credits on fillies and mares’ races and incentives to breed to New Zealand-bred sires – did little to stem the bleeding, and it’s led to a more radical move from the governing body.
The result is a $1.4 million per annum stimulus package for at least five years, which will reward the breeders of current racehorses aged two through six with credits that can be used against service fees or breeding costs going forward.
It goes hand in hand with other initiatives announced in recent times that aim to reward breeders, including the Harness 5000 Series, Silk Road Series, NextGen, Entain 2YO Bonus Scheme and the Fillies and Mares credits scheme.
“The common trend in surveys of breeders and HRNZ’s owners was that the biggest factor is cost, be it the stallion cost or the ongoing working fees that come after that,” said HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager, Matt Peden.
“So, with this latest announcement, it’s now at $3.4 million in direct uplift to the breeding industry per annum.”
Peden noted that the Paddock To Podium concept gave breeders credits rather than cash and that would help HRNZ access the efficacy of the policy.
“For it to be redeemed, we would be able to trace it and analyse whether it’s achieving what we hope.
“Our feeling was that we needed to be responsible with this initiative rather that just throwing cash out there.”
In a recent story on these pages, Graeme Henley, the head of Alabar Stud, warned that there was the potential for there to only be 1000 live foals on the ground this spring, a scary thought when you consider just 10 years ago that number was 1962.
Peden said he wasn’t concerned – yet – about that figure reaching crisis point.
“I’m not concerned at the moment if foal numbers are to remain at the current state, because we are working towards better utilisation of our horse pool.
“Starts per horse per year went up to 10.4 last season, from 9.4 the year before, so we are getting better use out of them and it’s a figure we want to keep driving north.”
Part of that is disincentivising sales and exports with more lucrative racing opportunities, and export numbers certainly are trending downwards in a stark fashion.
“That being said, we do need to stabilise the decline and at this point, I would consider a 5% growth in mares bred as something to celebrate.”
Brad Reid recently returned to his role as Executive Manager of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association (NZSBA) and is better placed than anyone to assess the landscape of breeding in this country.
“I see this latest announcement as a hugely positive step and it shows that HRNZ and its board recognises that breeder viability underpins the entire industry,” Reid told RaceForm.
Reid said that while Paddock To Podium was ultimately the ‘brainchild’ of HRNZ CEO Brad Steele, it was a collaborative effort with NZSBA.
“We’ve been in regular dialogue and had an opportunity throughout the process to advocate for meaningful incentives.
“That’s evident in some of the terms and conditions, where we had dynamic discussions around how things should be, and ultimately we’re pretty comfortable with where it’s gotten to.
“It sets the stage for NZSBA to continue to work alongside HRNZ as a partner in breeding and we will continue to try and shape breeders’ voices in the shape, the detail and delivery.”
Reid said breeders from all walks stand to benefit.
“Whether you are a ‘one a year’ breeder or breeding 40, you stand to gain some direct benefit from it.”
There is “cautious optimism” on the breeding front line, when all initiatives are taken into consideration, he feels.
“Breeders have been blunt about the day-to-day realities of it all, and there were strong signals when I came back on board, in a survey around their intent to breed this year.”
The results of that survey triggered alarm bells at HRNZ and led to this swift and decisive move.
Reid said the other big factor that needs addressing is the fact that breeders are aging at an alarming rate.
“The biggest threat is our age demographic, but we have seen a big uptick recently in the under-40 breeders which historically make up less than 10% of our members.
“A key part of that strategy is the NextGen model and we are hoping to see some tangible growth in that area.
“It’s so important to bring that age group into the fold and get them interested and active in breeding.”
A feasible target for this year is to stop the freefall of mares being bred, rather than growth, according to Reid.
“The most realistic goal is stabilisation – even holding the foal crop at current levels would be a success given the downward trend over the last five years. And I think from there, rebuilding momentum and accelerating growth would be the next step.”
It’s not just HRNZ that are stepping up to stimulate growth. North Canterbury’s Wai Eyre Farm is going ‘all in’ this breeding season.
It’s bought two new stallions – former champion pacer Lazarus and American import US Captain – as well as adding Australian trotter All Cashed Up in a freshened-up roster. But more importantly it has announced its own framework of incentives that it says is designed to assist breeders.
Along with its partners Yabby Dam Farms and Dancingonmoonlight Stud, it has put the call out looking for broodmares to buy or lease to take part in a new ‘Lease To Buy’ programme that it calls an industry first.
“If your mare is selected for this program, we will breed your mare to one of our stallions, you will incur no costs at all, and then you will have the option to purchase the resulting foal at an agreed price, at weaning,” it said in an announcement last week.
Reid had nothing but praise for the move.
“Darryl Brown and his team there are going ‘all in’ and it’s encouraging to see them rewarding their clientele like that.
“Nevele R Stud are also working on something similar that will lower costs, too.
“I think it underlines a culture shift, that started with the new HRNZ Board and Management last year and has now flowed to other parts of the industry.
“It feels like, from top to bottom, stakeholders are pulling their socks up and making a much bigger contribution to the overall environment and health of the industry.”
