Author: NZHarnessNews

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

Vale Noel Poingdestre Harness Racing New Zealand sends its condolences to the family of Noel Poingdestre who has died in Hawera. An owner and trainer, he is being remembered as a real character who loved the sport. The Hawera Harness Racing Club has also paid tribute to him, saying they will “certainly miss his quick wit and endless supply of stories”. His last official runner was the fourth-placed Manny at last Sunday’s Hawera meeting. He died after a short illness, aged 74. A farewell service will be held in New…

By Michael Guerin If New Zealand’s only $1million harness race is anywhere as frenetic as the build-up it should be worth the wait. The Race by Grins will have its second running at Cambridge on April 14, with the prize money for the slot race rising by $100,000 after starting at $900,000 last season. The 2200m mobile pace will contain 10 runners and four are already confirmed, one as good as done, another high-profile name has pulled out and the connections of some other stars are now waiting until after…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  The Teal Pants fund-raiser has got off to a successful and lucrative start, with more than $5000 raised so far. The annual campaign is all about increasing awareness about ovarian cancer, and raising funds towards research. Between February 1 and mid March money is raised for the cause every time a female driver, wearing the teal pants, wins a race. The money comes from contributions from Harness Racing New Zealand ($100), the clubs ($100), individual sponsors, public donations and more. So far there…

By Michael Guerin Fresh from finally making an impression at the home of Sydney harness racing Kiwi driver Tim Williams wants to double down today. Williams won his first ever feature race at Menangle on Saturday night when B D Joe declared himself a contender for the A$1million Miracle Mile by sitting parked to pace 1:50.6 on his Australian debut. It was a significant first strike for the Telfer/Cullen stable as they start to target Aussie riches from their ever-expanding empire which has grown to be the biggest harness racing…

By Jonny Turner Gavin Smith enjoyed reminding everyone of his class in the sulky during a double-cup winning weekend. Smith got Waitangi weekend off to a great start with a winning double at Addington on Friday night with Trot To Chevron and Skyvale. The reinsman completed a double of a different kind when driving Sam’s Town to win the Amberley Cup at Rangiora on Monday. The victory followed up Smith’s win with Heston Hall in the Waikouaiti Trotters Cup just a day earlier. “It was a good night Friday, a…

By Jonny Turner John Morrison will have plenty of options in front of him when he teams up with Franco Marek in the Rangiora Equine Services Amberley Cup on Monday (4.17pm). The Greg Manson trained pacer takes on a very competitive country cup line up in the Amberley Club’s annual feature at Rangiora. Though the Rangiora grass circuit is known as a track that most horses have to be handy on, punters shouldn’t panic if they see Franco Marek slightly off the pace. Driven on the speed in many of…

By Jonny Turner  Nathan Williamson edged closer to one milestone while Bob Butt completed another with Get Up N Dance’s win in the Waikouaiti Cup on Sunday. The two horsemen combined to seal a Waikouaiti Cups double for Butt had already trained Heston Hall to win the Waikouaiti Trotters Cup with Gavin Smith in the sulky. Get Up N Dance has always had plenty of class, but he hasn’t shown it in all of his runs through the spring and summer. But some fine tuning from Butt had the horse…

by Adam Hamilton  It was a big night for the Kiwis at Menangle last night. Republican Party secured his Chariots Of Fire spot with an easy win in the Group 3 Hondo Grattan Stakes, while B D Joe made a move towards the Miracle Mile by winning the free-for-all. With Blair Orange at Melton, Carter Dalgety took the reins and coasted to a 4.2m win on Republican Party to win by 4.2m in a 1min52.4sec mile. It was really a dash home with a 26 sec flat last quarter. B…