The recent exciting development with the formalisation of a partnership between the TAB and Entain promises much for our sport. Harness Racing New Zealand is excited about working with Entain and we are currently evaluating what this new relationship means for our sport and the funding for the next racing season. We expect to make an announcement by the end of this month. Entain took over the running of the TAB on June 1, and this will see around one billion dollars flow into support of the sector in the…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Addington Weekly : June 15
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News.
South Coast Arden looks to go three in a row
By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi pacer South Coast Arden looks to have found the right race to stretch his unbeaten NSW streak to three at Menangle on Saturday night. The class gelding has clearly enjoyed the switch to Australia as evidenced by an impressive first-up win at Bathurst, followed by a narrow but blistering 1min49.1sec mile win at Menangle on June 3. Connections opted for the move from Brent Mangos’ NZ stables to NSW when South Coast Arden raced below his best late last year, culminating with 15th in the…
Youngsters coming out to play at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin The second wave of Steve Telfer’s juvenile army launch their assault on Alexandra Park tonight and the premiership trainer says strength could end up being the deciding factor. Telfer is the head of New Zealand harness racing’s biggest stable, training in partnership with his sister Amanda and Hayden Cullen, and after dominating the domestic sales market in recent years he decided to flex some of that equine muscle last week. The stable produced the trifecta in last Thursday’s juvenile race, with Rock Band the first of their…
Dave Branch decides against trans-Tasman move
Leading administrator Dave Branch has decided his immediate future will be in New Zealand. The chief executive of Cambridge Raceway and the key figure behind the $1m Race by Grins had been “seriously considering” a move to Australia. He’d been linked to a high profile job in Queensland he called “tempting”. “But in the end I feel there is a job that’s only been half done at Cambridge and I feel a lot of loyalty to the team there.” “We are on the cusp of a really exciting milestone in…
News Briefs : June 14
Ottley and Tritton lead the way on big weekend On the same weekend that Sam Ottley became the most successful female driver in this country with her 678th win at Addington ex-pat Australian Lauren Tritton has made history in North America. She became the first woman to not only start in the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park, Ohio but she also won it with millionaire pacer Lochinvar Art. Compatriot Kerryn Manning, a celebrated trainer-driver, was also made a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia…
Online Licence Renewals 2023-24
Online Licence Renewals for the 2023/24 licensing season 1 Aug 2023 – 31 July 2024 are now open (due date 30 June 2023) You can renew your licence online via your My HRNZ login on the HRNZ website or on the HRNZ Infohorse App on your mobile phone, download from the App Store or Play Store. If you need to supply a medical clearance, please complete your online renewal application and submit the medical once completed. If you would like help completing your online renewal please contact Maria Harris, details…
Peter Baken – one of harness racing’s more colourful characters
By Rob Courtney Every sport has its personalities and one of the most identifiable figures in Canterbury harness racing is (and has been for sometime) Peter Baken, known to many across the country as ‘rabbit’. From administrators, trainers and drivers to fellow owners, there wouldn’t be many harness enthusiasts who didn’t recognise Baken with his dapper wardrobe and immaculate accessories including ‘the hat’. One only has to spend time in the company of the man to sense his passion and commitment to harness racing and his energy levels and…
BYO change welcomed by racing clubs
Small harness racing clubs are welcoming a recent change to the country’s drinking laws. The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill passed its third reading in Parliament last week. “It will mean race-goers and punters can take a bottle of wine or beer to the races at clubs with three or fewer meetings in a calendar year,” says the Bill’s backer, National’s Racing spokesperson and Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie. “This Bill eliminates any ambiguity about the legality of BYO at race meetings.” “Rural clubs in…
Sam Ottley has history-making win at Addington
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After having the perfect start to her driving career 15 years ago, Sam Ottley is now the most successful female driver in New Zealand. The 32-year-old steered Takemybreathaway to victory at Addington yesterday to register her 678th career success, overtaking Cambridge trainer-driver Nicky Chilcott. “It’s been a good old battle with Nicky and I’m pleased to have got one ahead ahead of her,” Ottley told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. “It was my goal at the start of the season ….so to…