By Jonny Turner Cran Dalgety hopes All You Need Is Me can show her speed rather than her sass in her debut at Nelson on Friday. The royally bred daughter of leading sire Captaintreacherous and the superstar racemare Adore Me will make her debut in race 5 with Carter Dalgety in the sulky. While she has plenty to live up to, All You Need Is Me has shown her share of her family’s ability in her recent trial outings. Cran Dalgety just wants to see the filly concentrating on the…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Feedback sought on big shake up to racing calendar
Submissions are now open into a proposal to increase the number of harness race meetings in this country from August this year. TAB operators Entain has floated the idea of potentially having extra meetings in the 2024/25 season with the majority of them being held early in the week, mainly on a Monday and Tuesday. “Entain’s presence opens up an opportunity to do things differently and we are excited about that but a huge amount of work is required in terms of horse numbers, race day costs and funding,” says…
New rules for 2YOs in 2024
Harness Racing New Zealand would like to remind everyone in the sport of the new rules regarding two-year-olds. From the start of 2024 it’s been decided that two-year-olds can only race against their age group, and not in rating races as they did previously. Around 150 two-year-old races have been programmed this year compared with 82 last season to ensure there are opportunities for all two-year-olds. Note that this policy will be reviewed as the season progresses. Two-year-old races will go ahead as long as there are at least five…
Tickets now on sale for HRNZ awards evening
With the big night a little over a month away, tickets are now on sale for the 2023 season NZB Standardbred Harness Racing New Zealand Awards. The awards, culminating in the naming of the 2023 Horse of the Year, will be held at the Christian Cullen Lounge at Addington on Monday, February 19. Tickets for the gala evening, featuring a three course dinner and drinks package, are $130, and $110 for any licence-holder aged under 30. A table of 10 has been discounted to $1170. Tickets are strictly first in…
Whale Watch – Cambridge
Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Cambridge tonight.
Winton winner sees Williams hit 800
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams couldn’t have been better dressed for his 800th driving win in New Zealand with Aardie B Miki at Winton on Wednesday. Williams weaved a path for the three-year-old to be able to sprint best to seal the milestone victory in the colours of his employer Stonewall Stud. Delighted to score his 800th victory, the reinsman couldn’t think of better colours to notch his milestone victory in. “It’s a big thrill, obviously great to get these colours on they’re a big part of what I do…
Dickie keen to keep hot streak going
By Michael Guerin Top driver Josh Dickie is loving being home and he hopes his successful return steps up a level at Cambridge tonight. Dickie returned to New Zealand officially two weeks ago and has driven four winners already for new bosses Stonewall Stud. He returns to his “first” home track of Cambridge tonight and picks up the drive on last-start Greenlane Cup winner Resolve in the $40,000 Dunstan Horsefeeds Cambridge Flying Stakes, a mobile 2200m in which she is one of only two genuine open class trotters. Resolve has…
News Briefs : January 10
Veteran has career win number 20 Still winning as a 13-year-old Take After Me has been a remarkable horse for the Scotts at Kaiapoi. The dual gaited veteran won the Famous Grouse Hotel Lincoln Trot at Motukarara on Sunday by a nose from Ruthless Lizzie to register his 20th lifetime win in 349 starts. He has won four starts as a pacer and 16 as a trotter. The son of Holmes Hanover is trained by Fred Scott, who races the horse along with wife Jan. Holiday milestones Bringing up the…
Glamour pair delay trans-Tasman trip, Muscle Mountain staying home
By Adam Hamilton Mark Purdon’s Aussie raid has been delayed another week. The champion trainer confirmed he and son Nathan were still focused on chasing Victorian riches with pacing stars Akuta and Don’t Stop Dreaming and had planned to send the pair across to focus on Ballarat Cup night on January 20. Now, the glamour pacing pair won’t arrive in Victoria until after Ballarat. “Don’t Stop Dreaming just didn’t pull up as well as hoped from the last start and needs a bit more time,” Mark Purdon said. “We’re on…
Ryleigh Phelan continues family tradition
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Following on from grandfather Frank, and her father Scott it’s now Ryleigh Phelan’s turn to make her way in the sport. On Sunday the youngster made a winning debut in a Kidz Kartz race at Cambridge. “I was nervous, I had butterflies,” Ryleigh said, “but it was real fun.” Ryleigh has been driving at club events and the like for two years. But it was only after she turned 10 last week that she was eligible to drive at Kidz Kartz events. Partnered with…