Thoroughbred and harness codes join forces for racing’s future

by Michael Guerin New Zealand’s two equine racing codes are set to join forces to plan for the future of the industry. The thoroughbred and harness racing codes were once considered staunch rivals because while there is plenty of cross over between owners, punters and even trainers in the two codes, they uses to compete for turnover. Those days are all but gone, with harness more or less a non factor on thoroughbred racing’s biggest days while both codes benefit from a stronger overall turnover at the TAB. At the…

Boss Jo impresses again in Cambridge Silk Road heat

by Jordyn Bublitz In-form trotting mare Boss Jo added another strong performance to her record at Cambridge Raceway last night, taking out the Gavelhouse.com Silk Rd Northern Trotting Mares Ht. 1 Mobile Trot. The six-year-old daughter of Sebastian K has now won two of her last four starts and continues to build on her consistent vein of form.  Monika Ranger guided the mare to victory, settling patiently 5-back the pegs and moving forward as horses came off the fence in the final lap. Rounding the home bend the pair found their way…

Lots of fun with Lottie’s Moment tinged with sadness

by Frank Marrion, courtesy Harness Express The recent burst of form from Lottie’s Moment has been a reminder as to the tragic passing of Katie Cox last year. Cox bred the four-year-old daughter of Majestic Son and raced her briefly in the spring of 2023, when she was placed in all three two-year-old races behind the likes of Wilma’s Boy and Princess Sadie. Lottie’s Moment has won three of her eight races this time in for John Morrison, but her last three starts have been particularly good. She won a…

Racing Codes Unite to Shape the Future of NZ Racing Infrastructure

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ), supported by TAB NZ have today announced the launch of Project Stamina, a landmark collaboration to develop a unified Master Plan for the future of New Zealand’s racing infrastructure. This joint initiative marks a strategic shift from reactive maintenance to long-term, future-focused investment across both Thoroughbred and Harness racing codes. “We have reached a critical point that calls for bold decision making. Project Stamina is about making the necessary decisions to ensure our infrastructure supports a thriving future for horse racing…

Green and Delaney team out in force at Alexandra Park

by Michael Guerin Ray Green may be way past a normal retirement age but he is still looking for his next good horse. “That doesn’t stop,” says Green, who just three seasons ago completed a New Zealand Cup double with Copy That. The 79-year-old still trains at Pukekohe, these days with Nathan Delany, and while they may not have a pin-up horse the stable is still a regular Friday night force. Their 23 training wins for the season, which in harness racing runs the calendar year, puts them second behind…

Franco Sinatra tackles tough handicap at Addington

by Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety may be taking one of the best horses at the meeting in Franco Sinatra to Addington tonight but that won’t be the highlight of his harness racing weekend. Because tomorrow sees the return to the stable he runs with wife Chrissie and son Carter of arguably New Zealand’s best pacer Republican Party. The now mutiple Group 1 winner of the Auckland and Invercargill Cups as well as the Messenger and Roy Purdon Memorial, Republican Party has spent the last month on the water walker and…

ATC members to vote on Franklin Park sale in bid to save Auckland harness racing

by Michael Guerin The Auckland Trotting Club could finally dig itself out of a $120million financial hole with the potential sale of its training track to be voted on by members on July 23. But while the ATC board have to ask their members for permission to sell the Franklin Park training track in Pukekohe, in reality they either vote in favour of the sale or risk losing harness racing in the region all together. The ATC has been under enormous financial strain since the building of apartments with commercial…

Prix De Turn gets a second chance

Having been left in the paddock waiting to be picked up for a career in the equestrian field, Prix De Turn (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) is making a comeback to the racetrack.  Having not raced since the Yarra Valley Cup (1968m) in March last year, Prix De Turn heads to the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.  A rising seven-year-old, Prix De Turn has only two wins to his credit, including the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley, from 18 career starts, but has always displayed plenty of talent.  Prix De…

Fresh Kosciuszko takes trip to Caulfield

Trainer Dan Meagher is banking on fresh legs with his former Singapore champion Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) when he runs at Caulfield.  Lim’s Kosciuszko is coming back in distance from 1400m four weeks ago to contest the Gr.3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.  Meagher is banking on Lim’s Kosciuszko’s proven ability and lining up in a weight-for-age race on Saturday as being pivotal to the gelding’s chances.  Lim’s Kosciuszko won 22 of his 30 starts in Singapore and Hong Kong and has raced twice in Australia, finishing third first-up at Flemington before a midfield finish at…