Author: NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Kiwi young gun Carter Dalgety will make a surprise appearance at Albion Park on Saturday night. And it could be the forerunner to more hit-and-run trips across the ditch. Dalgety will have two drives for trainer Michael Brennan, who has moved from Western Australia to Queensland to become private trainer for owner Josh Davine. “This just sort of fell into place,” Dalgety said. “I was planning a trip to visit my sister, Madi, who lives in Queensland and then Josh (Davine) said their stable driver, Korbyn Newman,…

By Jordyn Bublitz  Arna Donnelly has an army of runners to contest tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway. “It’s been a good team effort to get them all there and going good,” said Donnelly who has a total of eight runners spread across the 8-race programme.  The first three of her charges go head-to-head in Race 1, the Mid-Winter Christmas at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. Ragnar Lothbrok faces a step up in grade to compete against stablemates Beta Prepare and Red Rackham. Of the three Donnelly is of the opinion that…

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) wishes to notify all participants that the proposed changes to the Handicapping and Rating system, initially set to be implemented at the end of May, will start Monday, June 30. This decision has been made following valuable feedback received from participants during a series of roadshows held across New Zealand. This short delay provides additional time to review and test the changes. HRNZ remains committed to ensuring that all aspects of the new system are fully prepared, with a clear focus on achieving a smooth…

The New Zealand Equine Research Foundation has released its latest bulletin. It includes a story on harness racing star Carter Dalgety’s trip to the USA after winning a Valachi Down Young Achiever scholarship. To see the bulletin click here

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  The stable has three runners engaged but Ben Hope will be one and done at Addington’s midweek meeting today. All three of the Greg and Ben Hope-trained runners will be short priced favourites on the seven race card.  Hope’s sole drive will be with Viva La Vida in Race 2, the Unhinged Racing Syndicate Mobile Trot (4.55pm). At last look he was paying $2.15 in the six horse field.  “He’s very short isn’t he?,” says Hope. “But he’s not a bad wee maiden…

There’s been a change of date confirmed for the Waikato – Bay of Plenty Harness Inc’s meeting at Cambridge next month. Originally scheduled for Thursday, June 26 it will now be held two days earlier on Tuesday, June 24. The reason for the change is a clash of dates with the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale. The NZB National Standardbred Weanling Sale will be held in conjunction with the NZB National Thoroughbred Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday, June 26. For any more information  contact matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz

By Adam Hamilton  The huge impact Greg Sugars had on New Zealand harness racing and its people was evident for all to see at his Memorial Service at Melton yesterday. Mark Purdon made the trip across, Gavin Smith spoke superbly, while David and Stacey White, along with Josh Dickie and Sammy Kilgour were just some of other Kiwis to travel to Melbourne for it. Then there was a group of Kiwi trainers, drivers, owners and fans who banded together at Addington to share the moment and watch the live stream,…