A new 2YO pacing Colts and Geldings race has been added to Addington’s meeting on Friday, May 16. The addition has been made after the 2YO race scheduled for this Friday (May 9) was abandoned. The May 16 race will provide an opportunities for the two-year-old males to race before the Group 1 Welcome Stakes on Addington’s Premier night on May 23. It will be run over 1980m (with PBD winning stakes using the track grid), and a stake of $17,000.
Author: NZHarnessNews
Grace period extended for Yearling purchase transfers
HRNZ has extended the grace period for ownership transfers of yearlings purchased at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales. Buyers now have until 5pm on Friday, May 9 2025 to submit their initial transfer of ownership free of charge. Initially the cut-off date was Friday, May 2. After May 9, the normal $85 fee will apply. Even if ownership hasn’t been finalised, a transfer must still be submitted. You’re encouraged to list the nominated purchaser from sale day if final details are pending. The transfer form, along with a…
New contacts for National Bureau
The National Racing Bureau now has its own dedicated email and phone accounts. The hotline is 0508 BUREAU = 0508 287328 and the email is : bureau@hrnz.co.nz The bureau has been in operation since Monday, April 7. It is a centralised system overseen by HRNZ that streamlines the nomination, acceptance and field release process for the sport across the whole county. Trainers should nominate and manage drivers via the HRNZ Website or app.
Metro series returns this Friday
After a brief break, the highly-popular Metro Trotting and Pacing Series is back. The first heats of the latest series, worth $20,000, will be held for both gaits as part of the Magness Benrow and IRT Sires’ Stakes Finals night at Alexandra Park on Friday night. A second round of heats will be held on May 23. The series is for horses rated up to and including R54 and/or horses with up to two lifetime wins. Heat wins will be penalty free with the first four home in each automatically…
Les White looking to go back-to-back at Cambridge today
By Jordyn Bublitz For a $2,800 purchase Les White is pretty chuffed with how well his mate Bettor Reaction has been performing as of late, and the Auckland Reactor gelding could well add to his earnings at Cambridge today. ‘Jack’ ,as he is known by, was purchased off Gavelhouse last June by White and put on an eye-catching performance fresh up in December to win at Alexandra Park on a 57.3 half by a commanding 5 ¾ length margin. “It was just so unexpected, he’s so laid back and he…
Draw favours General Jen in big Friday night at Addington and Auckland
By Michael Guerin General Jen may have to go to a new peak to win the biggest race of her career this Friday but she has been gifted the draw to do it. The Canterbury three-year-old filly made quite the Alexandra Park debut when smashing her older rivals last Friday night and now steps back in against her own sex in the $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Final back at The Park this Friday. She meets a red hot field containing Beside Me, Northern Oaks winner (and Hayden and Amanda…
Keayang Zahara remains unbeaten on emotional night in Victoria
By Adam Hamilton Brilliant young trotting mare Keayang Zahara stretched her unbeaten record to 15 starts when she carried the silks of the late Greg Sugars on one of the most emotionally-charged nights Australian harness racing has seen. The four-year-old, first-up since December 6 last year, did all of the work outside multiple Group 1 winner Im Ready Jet and lifted when it mattered to win by a head at Melton. As her driver Glen Craven returned to the winner’s circle, it signalled the start of a beautiful and deeply…
Another huge win for Mister Smartee
By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee completed Western Australia’s big pacing double with a barnstorming $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup win at Gloucester Park last night. Just as he did a week earlier to win the $1.25 million Nullarbor, Gary Hall Jr drove a stunning race, this time escaping a tricky pocket at just the right time. It gave his father, Gary Hall Sr, a remarkable 11th win in the Fremantle Cup. It was Hall Jr’s 10th driving win in the Grand Circuit feature. “He’s just the best…
Paige and Arthur Shelby star at Addington
By Michael Guerin A relationship that dates back to the great Courage Under Fire combined to win the biggest race of the night at Addington on Friday. But this time it was with a trotter called Paige, who bounced around between Bruce Negus and Colin De Filippi early in her career. Negus and De Filippi were of course the combination that took the champion young pacer Courage Under Fire to 24 straight wins at the turn of the century before the horse moved to Brian Hancock’s care in New South…
Republican Party wins fourth Group 1 in six months
By Michael Guerin History and the future met in perfect synergy when Republican Party won the $100,000 Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park on Friday. On face value it was simple stuff as the wonderful pacer made it four Group 1 wins in six months when he rolled to the front effortlessly at the 1600m mark and never looked like being headed. It capped a career-best night for young driver Carter Dalgety who drove two Group 1 winners after Fugitive won the $90,000 Breckon Farms Young Guns Final earlier in…