Cambridge Raceway

What Cambridge Raceway does

Cambridge Raceway is a private harness racing venue and function centre located at 1 Taylor Street in Cambridge, Waikato, New Zealand. Established in 1900, the venue has operated for over 100 years and currently runs a 12-person organization that hosts approximately 26 harness race meetings annually, predominantly on Thursday evenings. Its product set spans a regular race meeting calendar, premium slot races (The Race by Grins, NZD 1 million stake; TAB Trot Slot, NZD 575,000–655,000 stake) staged at the annual Night of Champions meeting, indoor and outdoor function spaces for weddings, corporate events, seminars, trade shows, and funerals, in-house catering through Off The Track Food & Bev, hospitality via the on-site Clubhouse Sports Bar and Skyline Lounge, and two membership tiers — Taylor St Club (NZD 240/year or NZD 25/month) and the invitation-only 1609 Club (capped at 100 members).

Underlying technology is non-proprietary and limited to standard small-venue tooling: the website is built on Rocketspark, social presence runs through Facebook, and wagering is integrated via a partnership with TAB NZ. The core competitive asset is the physical facility and its slot-race IP rather than software or data systems; the venue has no patents, trademarks, certifications, or proprietary technology stack disclosed.

Cambridge Raceway earns revenue across five streams: race meeting fees and wagering-adjacent commissions, venue and function space hire, professional-services catering (on-site and out-catering), recurring subscription membership fees, and sponsorship and slot race partnerships (naming rights such as Grins; slot-holder participation from Aldebaran Park, All Stars Racing, Taylor St Racing Club Syndicate, Cullen Breeding, Haras Des Trotteurs, Hidden Honey, Strike Won Racing, and TAB NZ). The go-to-market motion is event-driven, anchored by the Night of Champions as the flagship conversion event, supported by content marketing, organic social, earned media through Harness Racing New Zealand, and direct enquiry via website and email.

Name

Cambridge Raceway

Legal name

Cambridge Raceway

Website

https://cambridgeraceway.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Harness Racing Venue & Function Centre

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAEADAA

Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Horse Racing & Pari-Mutuel Betting

SECONDARYMPAEADAM

Racecourse Hospitality, Sponsorship & On-Track Experiences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Gambling, Betting & Casinos/Horse Racing & Pari-Mutuel Betting

SECONDARYMPAKAGAE

Race Tracks, Circuits & Motorsport Venues

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Motorsports Series, Teams & Promoters

SECONDARYMPAKAGAC

Race Promoters & Event Organizers (Race Weekend Operations)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Motorsports Series, Teams & Promoters

Keywords

• Harness racing venue
• Function space rental
• Slot race events
• Race meeting operations
• Event catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge, Waikato

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Race Meeting Revenue: Revenue from hosting approximately 26 harness racing meetings annually, predominantly on Thursday evenings, including entry fees, wagering commissions, and spectator attendance.
2. Function Space and Venue Hire: Rental income from hiring out indoor and outdoor venue spaces for weddings, birthdays, seminars, trade shows, meetings, markets, and funerals.
3. Catering Services: On-site catering through Off The Track Food & Bev, including the Clubhouse sports bar (pub-style food), Taylor St Club (tapas), Skyline Lounge restaurant, and Tote Burger window. Also provides out-catering services.
4. Membership Programs: Taylor St Club membership at $240 per annum or $25 per month, offering exclusive event invitations, private headquarters access, race meeting perks, partner discounts, and ownership opportunities. 1609 Club (invitation only, limited to 100 people) for luxury experiences.
5. Sponsorship and Slot Race Partnerships: Naming rights sponsorship (e.g., Grins for The Race), slot race partnerships where slots are sold to holders who liaise with owners/trainers to fill slots with horses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cambridge Raceway is a harness racing venue and function centre in Cambridge, New Zealand, hosting approximately 26 race meetings annually (mostly Thursday evenings). Beyond racing, it operates as a venue hire business offering indoor and outdoor function spaces for weddings, corporate events, trade shows, and other gatherings, complemented by in-house catering (Off The Track Food & Bev), social and premium membership programs (Taylor St Club, 1609 Club), and signature premium events including Night of Champions featuring The Race by Grins ($1 million stake) and TAB Trot Slot.

Product overview

Cambridge Raceway is a harness racing venue and function centre offering approximately 26 harness race meetings annually. The venue hosts premium signature events including The Race by Grins ($1 million slot race) and TAB Trot Slot ($575,000+ trotting slot race) as part of the Night of Champions. Beyond racing, the venue operates multiple hospitality offerings: function spaces for events (weddings, corporate, trade shows), Taylor St Club membership ($240/year), 1609 Club (invitation-only luxury, 100 members), Off The Track Food & Bev catering service, and the Clubhouse Sports Bar. The venue is undergoing redevelopment to add upgraded event spaces, accommodation facilities, and multi-purpose stable complex.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harness Racing Events Cambridge Raceway hosts approximately 26 harness race meetings annually, predominantly on Thursday evenings, featuring competitive harness racing with various stakes and events for horse owners, trainers, drivers, and the public.
• The Race by Grins New Zealand's richest harness race and Australasia's first slot race, carrying a $1 million stake. Features slot holders who secure positions and liaise with owners and trainers to fill slots with horses.
• TAB Trot Slot Australasia's first slot race for trotters, featuring 2200m mobile races with initial stakes of $575,000-$655,000, headline event at the Night of Champions meeting at Cambridge Raceway.
• Night of Champions Annual premier harness racing meeting featuring the biggest races including The Race by Grins and TAB Trot Slot, attracting the best standardbreds from Australasia. Headline event of the Australasian harness racing calendar.
• Function Spaces Cambridge Raceway offers indoor and outdoor venue spaces available for hire for various events including weddings, birthdays, seminars, trade shows, meetings, markets, and funerals, with full catering services available through Off The Track Food & Bev.
• Taylor St Club Social membership program offering exclusive invitations to members-only events, access to private headquarters, exclusive race meeting perks, discounts with partners, and racehorse ownership opportunities. Priced at $240 per annum or $25 per month.
• 1609 Club Invitation-only luxury space limited to 100 members, providing exclusive facilities in the centre of the raceway for relaxation, networking, and premium hospitality experiences.
• Off The Track Food & Bev Full-service in-house catering solution led by Head Chef Michelle Thomson, providing on-site catering and out catering services for events. Includes Taylor St Club (tapas), Skyline Lounge restaurant, and Tote Burger window.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosts approximately 26 harness race meetings annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TAB NZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023TAB (Totalisator Agency Board) is a key partner for the TAB Trot Slot race at Night of Champions. Entain Australia and New Zealand operates TAB and partnered with Waikato-Bay of Plenty Harness Racing and HRNZ to create Australasia's first slot race for trotters.
• Aldebaran ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Aldebaran Park is one of eight slot holders for the inaugural TAB Trot Slot race. Aldebaran Lodge's Aldebaran Zeus won the Group One Turf Bar Waikato Flying Mile Trot on Grins Night of Champions 2023.
• All Stars Racing / Chris RydercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023All Stars Racing (Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan training partnership) and Chris Ryder are slot holders for the TAB Trot Slot race at Night of Champions.
• Cullen BreedingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Cullen Breeding is one of eight slot holders for the inaugural TAB Trot Slot race at Cambridge Raceway.
• Haras Des TrotteursminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Haras Des Trotteurs, an Australian trotting breeding operation, is one of eight slot holders for the inaugural TAB Trot Slot race.
• Hidden HoneyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Hidden Honey is one of eight slot holders for the inaugural TAB Trot Slot race at Cambridge Raceway.
• Strike Won RacingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Strike Won Racing is one of eight slot holders for the inaugural TAB Trot Slot race at Cambridge Raceway.
• Taylor St Racing Club SyndicatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2023Taylor St Racing Club Syndicate is a slot holder for the TAB Trot Slot and has secured champion Australian trotter Just Believe for the inaugural race.
• Off The Track Food & BevcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 December 2022Off The Track Food & Bev is Cambridge Raceway's in-house catering section led by Head Chef Michelle Thomson with over 20 years of experience. They took over all on-site catering from January 2023 and also provide out-catering services.
• GrinscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2022Grins is the naming rights sponsor of The Race by Grins. Grins is a Ready To Drink alcoholic beverage created by All Black legend Stephen Donald and current All Blacks Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie. Three-year naming rights partnership.
• Dunstan HorsefeedscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDunstan Horsefeeds is a major sponsor of Cambridge Raceway events including the Horse of the Year award and Battle of the Breeds event.
• Picket FenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPicket Fence is a brand/logo partner visible on the Cambridge Raceway website footer.
• The Clubhouse Sports BarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Clubhouse Sports Bar is an on-site venue within Cambridge Raceway operated separately, offering pub-style food and beverages. Phone: 07 823 7111, Email: [email protected], Website: www.clubhousecambridge.nz

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CambridgeRaceway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cambridge-raceway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Raceway