The vision is to establish the Addington Harness Racing Expo to honour outstanding achievements in New Zealand Harness racing, and to celebrate renowned equine performances and racing personalities at Addington Raceway. While it will collect, conserve, and display important memorabilia, the Expo will not merely be a museum, but an interactive, dynamic portrayal of harness racing history and achievement. Sited at Addington Raceway, the home of harness racing in New Zealand, the Expo will overlook the track from a prime location in The Gallery area of Twiggers Stand. The Addington Harness Racing Expo will rekindle the fond memories of harness racing enthusiasts, and encourage new participants into the industry.

The site of the Expo will be owned by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. Consent has been given by their board to allow development of the Expo with a rent-free 99-year renewable lease. All major structural changes will remain the property of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, while the charitable trust will have ownership of the Expo fit out and acquired assets.

The Expo will be located in The Gallery area of the Triggers Stand at Addington Raceway. Situated in the heart of Christchurch, Addington Raceway is the home of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, the Westpac Centre and numerous other business and recreational Activities. It has easy access to the city centre, southern and northern motorways, and is only minutes from Christchurch International Airport.

With the centennial New Zealand Cup to be run in 2003 the need to honour the achievements of the equine and human legends of harness racing was identified. While the preservation of memorabilia was vital, the promotion of Addington and the industry was also seen as vitally important. To this end the Expo will seek to establish vital co-operation and synergies with the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, Harness Racing New Zealand, Totalisator Agency Board, Racing Industry Board and other racing entities and their websites.

Since public announcement of this project in late 2000 the harness racing community has been consulted widely. Vital support has been received from the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and the management committee has employed professional help to conduct interviews with prominent people representing a board cross-section of the industry. Their feedback and criticisms have lead to this proposal which addresses any areas of concern raised and gained universal endorsement.

The proposed Expo is well supported by the industry and will play an important part in both the promotion of harness racing and the preservation of its history.