Entries Open for 2026 National Yearling Sale
3 July 2025
Entries for NZB Standardbred’s 2026 National Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale taking place next summer at Karaka on Monday 16 February and at Christchurch on Wednesday 18 February.
Headlined by recent Group One-winning graduates such as Marketplace, Meant To Be, Republican Party, Allamericanplayer, Mister Smartee, Bet N Win, Merlin, Arafura and more, the National Yearling Sale is responsible for an incredible 92 Group One wins plus 235 stakes races since 2020.
After a successful weanling sale, NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray is enthusiastic about the upcoming sales season.
“Off the back of another successful sales season, we continue to witness an increase in the positivity towards harness racing in New Zealand.”
“The 2025 yearling sale delivered some outstanding returns to breeders, the turnover was up 6% to over $13.3 million despite having 54 fewer horses offered.
“The domestic market is as strong as ever. Plus new ventures like the Pacemakers thoroughbred group that invested in 12 standardbreds at the weanling sale, as well as emerging markets like China keen to increase the number of Kiwi exports, is only positive.
“Our horses continue to stamp New Zealand as the source of genuine racing stars, with graduates doing us proud around the world,” added Bray.
“It is an exciting time of year as we get ready to start inspections. We look forward to putting together a high quality catalogue for buyers to unearth their next champion.”
All horses offered at the Sale are eligible for the NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Sales Race Series, with approximately $1 million in prizemoney on offer for graduates.
Entries for the Sale are now open and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August 2025. To nominate your yearlings for the 2026 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, visit NZB Standardbred’s online portal at standardbred.portal.nzb.co.nz. For enquiries about the Portal, contact Grant Inglis (+64 9 298 0055 or email grant.inglis@nzb.co.nz).
For more information about the Sale, contact NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray on Cam.Bray@nzb.co.nz or call +64 21 737 199.
Key Dates
Southland On-Farm Parades: 14 January 2026
Auckland/Waikato On-Farm Parades: 19 & 20 January 2026
Christchurch On-Farm Parades: 2 & 3 February 2026
Auckland Parade: Sunday 15 February 2026 at Karaka
Auckland Sale: Monday 16 February 2026 at Karaka
Christchurch Inspections: Tuesday 17 February 2026 at Canterbury RDA
Christchurch Sale: Wednesday 18 February 2026 at Canterbury RDA