Racing resumes on the Riccarton Park Polytrack for the fourth year this coming Thursday 1 May 2025.

This meeting is the start of a run of eleven racemeetings on the Polytrack from May through to September. Effectively there is a racemeeting on the synthetic surface every fortnight. There is also the one-off Polytrack meeting in December when the turf Course Proper undergoes renovation.

In preparation for racing this May the team from Martin Collins visited Riccarton Park over Easter weekend and undertook the process known as flipping the track. This is a deep working over of the Polytrack material and is a process scheduled for at least three times a year. It was strategically timed by Martin Collins to ensure the track is at its best for the start of the 2025 Riccarton Park Polytrack racing season.

For the record.

·         Riccarton Park trainer Andrew Carston has produced the most winners on the Polytrack with 36, followed by the Matthew & Michael Pitman partnership with 25 and the Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson partnership 22. The John & Karen Parsons team and Lance Robinson are next on 18.

·         Canterbury jockey Kylie Williams with 27 has recorded the most wins amongst the riders. Michael McNab is next on 24 with Lisa Allpress and Kozzi Asano on 18 and evergreen Terry Moseley on 15.

The list of dates for the 2025 Riccarton Park Polytrack Season is as follows:

1.       Thu 1 May 2025                           Synthetic Racing Season 1^st Day                      Industry meeting

2.       Thu 15 May 2025                        Synthetic Racing Season 2^nd Day                     Feature meeting

·         $40,000 open races, $35,000 rating races, $20,000 maiden races.

3.       Thu 29 May 2025                        Synthetic Racing Season 3^rd Day                      Industry meeting

4.       Wed 11 June 2025                      Synthetic Racing Season 4^th Day                      Industry meeting

5.       Thu 26 June 2025                        Synthetic Racing Season 5^th Day                      Industry meeting

6.       Wed 9 July 2025                          Synthetic Racing Season 6^th Day                      Industry meeting added stakes

·         $32,000 rating races, $22,000 maiden races.

7.       Thu 24 July 2025                          Synthetic Racing Season 7^th Day                      Industry meeting

8.       Wed 6 August 2025                    GNF 2^nd Day, Synthetic Season 8^th Day           Feature meeting

·         $100,000 Synthetic Innovation Race 1200 metres.

9.       Thu 21 August 2025                    Synthetic Racing Season 9^th Day                      Feature meeting

·         $40,000 open races, $35,000 rating races, $20,000 maiden races.

10.    Wed 27 August 2025  Synthetic Racing Season 10^th Day                                    Industry meeting

11.    Wed 10 September 2025           Synthetic Racing Season 11^th Day                    Industry meeting

12.    Friday 5 December 2025            Christmas at the Races                                       Industry meeting

·         $50,000 open races, $40,000 rating races, $25,000 maiden races.