Bringing racing into the digital age

Damask Rose won the inaugural $3.5m NZB Kiwi slot race. (Image: Supplied)

Fri, 21 Mar 2025

When Damask Rose won the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi slot race at Ellerslie on March 8, nearly 40 people crowded onto the podium for the presentation.That’s because the three-year-old filly is backed by a syndicate of people who each own a sliver of the champion horse.There’s nothing like a stake in the horseflesh on the track to generate excitement, and the country’s first slot race, where entry is bought at auction, is part of a suite of initiatives by the industry to boost engagement in racing and ownership of thor...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets

Fed, tariff fears send Dow down over 900 points

Blue-chip index heads for its worst April since 1932.

The Wall Street Journal 10:30am

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Thursday, April 22

What type of animal is a sidewinder?Where in the human body would you find the Island of Reil?Where in Europe is Nicosia the capital of?Which city did the Romans call Eboracum? Originally called 40/50, what did Rolls-Royce's 1907 car later become known as?What was the surnam...

The Quizmaster 9:15am