Christian Cullen - Harnesslink

FOREWORD
NZ Standardbred Breeders’ Association proudly presents to the standardbred breeders of New Zealand the 2008-2009
Register of Standardbred Stallions for New Zealand.
This Register provides you with accurate, comprehensive information on which to base your breeding decisions. No
decision made during the breeding year is more critical than the booking of the broodmare to the stallion.
Our industry and sport is in an exciting period of growth. For the first time in many years the number of mares bred
increased last season. Stakes have risen dramatically. Yearlings sales averages have been maintained. Export
opportunities to Australia will increase in the next few years.
New Zealand’s advantage and our heritage in this industry is based around:
❑ nature - our quality environment, soils and pastures
❑ nurture - our excellent animal husbandry, knowledgeable breeders, skilled preparers and trainers
❑ quality - our proven history of strong families and depth in broodmares
❑ value - all of the above contributing to an excellent product available to the local and international markets.
NZSBA actively promotes the best interests of New Zealand breeders and owners in all matters of harness racing and
breeding. We do this by:
❑ promoting ownership of standardbred horses
❑ participating in all aspects of the harness racing industry
❑ promoting quality breeding of the standardbred horse and ethical industry practice
❑ promoting group racing for fillies and mares and encouraging racing clubs to increase stake money
❑ supporting the development of effective governance within the harness racing industry, and
❑ monitoring industry developments to minimise cost to breeders
During the next year you will see NZSBA as a visible active participant in the industry. In October we will have on board our
first full-time employee responsible for promoting breeding and ownership and expanding our membership base. We will work
collaboratively with HRNZ in the marketing and promotion of our industry. We’ll look at supporting initiatives that reduce
wastage of horses, increase racing opportunities for owners to obtain a return and increase conception rates.
We will stand with HRNZ on matters of integrity, the right of our code to manage its business and regulation, on protecting our
share of the wagering dollar and ensuring an equitable distribution of TAB profits. Our website www.harnessracing.co.nz will
be upgraded and maintained. We will be seeking to achieve over 600+ financial members from the 3,000 breeders in NZ, with
associated membership benefits. We will continue to represent the interests of breeders and owners to HRNZ. We will bring you
more opportunities to send us your views of key matters affecting racing as a whole and harness racing in particular.
Thank you to Noel Kennard our editor, Graeme Hobbs for the typesetting, Caxton Press for the printing, the staff of Harness
Racing New Zealand for their assistance in many areas, Australia Harness Racing Council, US Trotting Association and
Standardbred Canada for statistics.
I acknowledge the support of our advertisers and the advertising studs and wish them and all breeders a profitable and
successful breeding season.
Please feel free to email me on any issue that you would like NZSBA to consider.
John Mooney
President
NZ Standardbred Breeders’ Association Inc.
john.mooney@xtra.co.nz
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