By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell will head to Ascot Park on Sunday chasing more success after enjoying the biggest thrill of his career. Hurrell started a wave of southern success at Addington on Friday night when he teamed up with Beach Day to win the Listed Uncut Gems Mares Classic. The victory brought up the reinsman’s first black-type win, marking a career highlight. “That’s my first major race win — first in a Group or listed race — so it’s probably the biggest thrill I’ve had,” Hurrell said. Trainer Greg…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Always B You has biggest win of career so far
By Michael Guerin Robert Dunn knows what to do with Always B You long term but the problem is what to do with her right now. The talented mare scored the biggest win of her career after a beautiful Peter Ferguson drive saw her take all the short cuts to grab the $30,000 Powell Transport North Island Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park on Friday. She wasn’t the best away from her 10m handicap but in a race with some pressure she ducked to the passing lane at the right time…
Southlanders shine on stacked night at Addington
By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s proudest harness racing regions turned back the clock to the glory days by dominating Addington on Friday night. Southland-based trainers won three of the six Group races on the stacked programme and two Southland mates in Regan Todd and Craig Ferguson combined with our best young pacer Marketplace to win the night’s Group 1, the $200,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final. Todd may not live in the deep south any more but it only takes about 10 words to come out of his mouth…
The latest on the Kiwis at ID2025
Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. Kiwi update on ID2025 With only six weeks until the first round of rapidly approaching Inter Dominion heats, here is the latest on the Kiwi contingent after the second rankings were released. A total of 24 trotters (two heats of 12) will contest the trotter’s series, with 36 pacers making the cut for the…
New race added to Ashburton meeting
A new race for the 2YO trotters has been added to the Ashburton Trotting Club’s programme for the King’s Birthday Meeting on Sunday, June 1. The mobile, for non-winners, will be worth $12,500. “HRNZ is committed to providing ample racing opportunities for all horses and in this instance we identified a month’s gap between opportunities for maiden 2YO trotters to race,” says HRNZ’s Racing and Wagering Manager Matthew Peden. “Ashburton in a fortnight was the best option to rectify that so we have added this race to their programme.” For…
Mazeppa powers to fourth victory for Wallis-Hackett team
By Jordyn Bublitz A dominant win at last night’s meeting at Cambridge has proven again that Mazeppa just keeps getting better. With Crystal Hackett in the bike, the big chestnut started off 25 metres in the Betavet Buildagut Handicap Trot. They were last at one stage before making a mid-race move. They then sat parked for the last lap before tearing away to a commanding 4 length victory Formerly trained by Dr Luk Chin and now with Waiuku trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, the 7-year-old son of Love You…
Friday Nights Lights featuring Marketplace and Mantra Blue
It’s Friday night with dual racing at Addington and Alexandra Park. All eyes will be on superstar Marketplace in the night’s feature race, the $200,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington at 9.39pm while up north the very promising Mantra Blue resumes in the North Island Breeders Stakes at 8.25pm. Bettors Anvil drawn to test Marketplace in $200,000 Sires’ Stakes Final By Michael Guerin Tim Williams knows that now or never may actually end up being never. But he thinks tonight’s $200,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington is his…
2025 National Standardbred Weanling sales catalogue out now
The 82-lot catalogue for NZB Standardbred’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is now live and available to view on www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz. A total of 79 weanlings and three yearlings will go under the hammer at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday, June 26 including 15 horses that will be Next Gen eligible. To see the catalogue click here A total of 14 weanlings and one yearling will be Next Gen eligible. The sires (and the lot numbers for their weanlings) are : Dancinginginthedark M (Lot 1065)E L Titan (Lot 1040)King…
HRNZ launches Independent Review into Young Guns Final eligibility process
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has today announced an independent review arising from the circumstances of the IRT 2YO Young Guns Final Mobile Trot, Race 3, held at Alexandra Park on Saturday, 10 May 2025. The review will address questions and concerns raised, and make recommendations to HRNZ. This review follows industry discussion surrounding the inclusion of a non-heat participant in the Group 3 Final. HRNZ acknowledges the concerns raised by trainers, owners, and fans regarding the interpretation and communication of those conditions. Independent Review “We are committed to a…
Raceday judge wanted for Otago/Southland
Southern Harness Racing is seeking a reliable, punctual, and enthusiastic individual to take on the role of Official Raceday Judge for our harness racing meetings throughout the Southland and Otago regions. To find out more click here