The New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards return to Auckland in 2018 but at a different venue.
 
The 2018 event will be held at the Ellerslie Event Centre, Ellerslie Racecourse, on Sunday, August 26.
 
The awards evening enables the racing community to acknowledge the high achievers, both equine and human, from the previous season.
 
It will recognise the leading racehorses, trainers, jockeys, breeders, strappers, media contributors, broodmares and stallions.
 
The New Zealand Strapper of the Year award, sponsored by champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller, was a popular innovation last year and will be a feature again this year.
 
The 2018 function will also mark the return of the Newcomer to Training award, sponsored by gavelhouse.com.
 
The Newcomer to Training award was resurrected by the New Zealand Trainers’ Association for the 2017-18 season, after being discontinued in the 1990s.  NZ Trainers’ Association Executive Officer Wendy Cooper is thrilled the award is being presented at the HOY function. “It is great we are recognising those new to the training ranks and promoting the up and comers in the industry. It is appreciated that it's a huge undertaking for someone to become a trainer and this is one way of rewarding those who make the commitment.”
 
To be eligible for the award, a trainer must have been training on their own account for less than five years. The winner will be the eligible trainer with the most individual winners for the season.
 
There will be an alteration to the HOY horse categories this year, with the reintroduction of the sprinter-miler award (up to 1600m). The middle-distance category has changed from 1601m to 2200m with the stayers’ category being 2201m and further.
 
The Horse of the Year title, won last year by Bonneval, has been in existence for almost 50 years.
 
For further information and to purchase tickets (on-sale mid-June), visit www.nzracing.co.nz/awards