You can expect to see more of the likes of Murray Baker and Opie Bosson on Racing.com (Image: Racing Photos)
The best of New Zealand's world class racing is coming to Racing.com.
Beginning on January 14 with the Group 1 Levin Classic program from Trentham, a selection of premium race meetings from New Zealand will be broadcast on free-to-air television in Australia for the first time via Racing.com.
New Zealand has a long history of producing some of the finest horses, jockeys and trainers in world racing, and has proven to be the source of many success stories in Australia since racing began.
Star gallopers Mongolian Khan, Turn Me Loose, Volkstok'n'barrell, Sofia Rosa, Sacred Elixir, Provocative and Tavago are just some of the names in recent years to emerge from New Zealand and win Group 1 races in Australia.
The New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB), the statutory body leading the New Zealand racing industry, and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the governing body of the thoroughbred code in New Zealand, have negotiated with Racing.com for a pilot of up to five premium race meetings to be broadcast that will showcase the best of New Zealand thoroughbred racing to a wide Australian audience.
NZRB CEO, John Allen, said he is pleased to be trialling this new initiative that will help grow the presence of New Zealand racing in Australia.
"We have some fantastic racing here in New Zealand, so we're delighted to be working with Racing.com to showcase some of our premium racing across their free to air platform," Allen said.
"New Zealand racing has a strong core following in Australia, and with our two industries so closely tied, being able to expand this following can only enhance racing on both sides of the Tasman."
Alan Jackson, Chairman of NZTR, said that the increased exposure of New Zealand racing into Australia via free-to-air television coverage will have a positive impact across the broader industry.
"It's great to see that some of New Zealand's iconic races will be seen by more Australian punters," Jackson said.
"Racing.com can reach 95 per cent of the Australian viewing audience and being free-to-air will open other opportunities for us.
"It means they can not only bet on our product, but with the bloodstock sales coming up it's another chance to showcase some of the quality bloodstock racing here and maybe encourage some of them to invest.
"We've worked very hard to get this foothold into Australia.
"It's an important way we can grow our 2-3 per cent share and endeavour to bring more money back into racing so that we can deliver better returns."
Andrew Catterall, CEO of Racing.com, welcomed the addition of New Zealand content to the free-to-air broadcast.
"This is a great opportunity for Racing.com and New Zealand racing," Catterall said.
"Premium New Zealand thoroughbred racing has significant relevance to the Australian racing audience through the shared participation of horses, trainers and jockeys."
The five premium race meetings that will be broadcast on free-to-air by Racing.com include:
January 14, 2017 – Trentham: Group 1 Levin Classic 1600m 3yo
January 21, 2017 – Trentham: Group 1 Telegraph 1200m
January 28, 2017 – Trentham: Group 1 Thorndon Mile 1600m
January 29, 2017 – Ellerslie: Karaka Million (Night Meeting) 1200m 2yo
February 11, 2017 – Te Rapa: Group 1 Herbie Dyke 2000m
Racing.com will also broadcast the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale on January 30 and 31 from Karaka.
The five premium New Zealand race meetings will be broadcast on Racing.com free-to-air channels 78 and 68.
A joint-venture partnership between Racing Victoria and Seven West Media, Racing.com is broadcast on free-to-air channels 78 (metropolitan) and 68 (regional), along with Foxtel channel 529 and on the Racing.com digital platform.
