New Zealand's greatest horse race will remain unchanged after Harness Racing New Zealand has abandoned plans to make the New Zealand Trotting Cup a handicap this year.
But HRNZ bosses say they will still conduct a review of horse numbers and possibly betting data to determine whether harness racing's biggest races become handicaps in the future.
HRNZ confirmed on Monday the New Zealand Cup and the Dominion for trotters, both held during Cup week at Addington, will remain free-for-alls meaning all horses start off the same mark.
That comes a week after it was suggested HRNZ was going to make the two races as well as the Auckland and Rowe Cups at Alexandra Park in May handicap races in an attempt to increase field size and drive more betting turnover.
The Addington club who host the New Zealand Cup voted against the move last Tuesday and said while they are happy to be party to a review, they want hard evidence suggesting making the Cup and Dominion handicap races would increase turnover.