Author: NZHarnessNews

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk There’ll be a reunion of sorts when Korbyn Newman and Mighty Looee team up in tonight’s feature pace at Addington. The talented junior driver hasn’t been in the sulky with the horse on race day since June 2021 but he knows the Sweet Lou six-year-old better than most. “I drive the horse just about every day,” says Newman, who works for the premiership-leading Dunn team at Woodend. Mighty Looee will be one of four Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained runners in the Hydroflow Plumbing…

A great day is planned when the Wyndham Harness Racing Club celebrate their centennial with a race meeting at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Saturday (18 March). The club has a wonderful history since being formed on Friday 23 May 1923. Subsequently, the first Trotting Club meeting, a non-totalisator event was held at the racecourse on Wednesday 7 November 1923. Another meeting followed in 1924 before the club’s inaugural tote meeting took place on Wednesday 18 March 1925. First Glance won the first Wyndham Trotting Cup in 1925 and…

By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s training greats thinks his star three-year-olds could be playing catch-up in the features at Alexandra Park tonight and it could be his brother who inadvertently benefits. So don’t be surprised if Mark Purdon wins both features tonight but brother Barry has two pacers running on strongly in them. Mark Purdon is on 2499 training successes, with Barry the only other trainer to have cracked 2500. He’s currently on 2635. Tonight’s meeting sees the best pacing fillies in the Peter Breckon Memorial and the…

A huge autumn of Sires’ Stakes racing gets underway at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Headlining the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes 3YO Colts and Geldings heat at 8.40pm are Merlin, Sherlock and Sinbad along with the likes of Sooner The Bettor, Seve and Who’s Delight. “It really is a cracking way to get things started,” says Sires’ Stakes executive Martin Pierson, “especially with the two shorties (Merlin and Sherlock) off the second row.” “It should be very competitive.” The race will be the first of four heats, culminating in the Group…

Tony Thomas, Chair of the Seddon Harness Racing Group, was delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Trainers Championship which includes five clubs in the top of the South, being Kaikoura, Marlborough, Nelson, Westport and Reefton. Based at Richmond Park in Nelson, Kevin Musso took out the Licence to Train category with 39 points. His best performer was Melando Chief, who had a win on January 15 as well as placings at Nelson, Reefton and Westport Musso finished seven points ahead of closest challengers Mark and Kendra Gill, and…

By Jonny Turner Don’t expect to see Mark Jones in the sulky too often in the coming weeks despite the reinsman reminding everyone of his skill with a winning double at Timaru on Wednesday. The former World Driving Champion made it a perfect two from two when he drove Bella Button and Kowhai Shadow to victory. Owners John and Jill Hartnell were partly behind Jones making a somewhat rare appearance in the sulky at Phar Lap Raceway. The Canterbury couple were keen for their trainer to don his own colours…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Horowhenua trainer Murray Gibbs has had a lifelong passion for harness racing, which was acknowledged at the North Island Harness Racing Awards at Cambridge last week. Gibbs was crowned 2022 North Island License To Train/Owner-trainer of the Year after a career best season of six wins and nine placings from 32 starts. “It was a bit of a surprise. I have never been one for awards, but this one popped up out of the blue and I am very proud to win it,” Gibbs…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.      

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News. 

This weekend marks 100 years of harness racing at Wyndham. The feature race on Saturday’s 10 race programme will be the $20,000 MLT Wyndham Centennial Cup over 3200 metres at 4.02pm. Included in the field is reigning Southland Horse of the Year Sand Wave. Wyndham’s first tote meeting in 1923 ranks it third in Southland behind the Gore Trotting Club, who had its first tote meeting in 1903, and Winton (1915). Harness racing enthusiast Peter Craig has done a deep dive into Wyndham’s rich history. To see his story click…