Author: NZHarnessNews

The Methven Trotting Club is issuing a challenge to all clubs to contribute to Addington Raceway’s Coast to Coast fundraiser. Club president Carl Markham has pledged $100 to the cause on behalf of the club and would love to see other clubs right around the country get involved and also stump up with some cash. A week today the Addington Raceway team of Chief Executive Brian Thompson, Facilities and Property Manager John Denton and IT Manager Andy Ross will take part in the Coast To Coast as part of a…

Team Teal is off the mark for 2023. The annual campaign to raise money for ovarian cancer research started at Oamaru this afternoon and in the very first race first time Team Teal ambassador Gemma Thornley won with hot favourite Lizzie Richter. It was the six-year-old mare’s third win in a row for trainer Mark Jones. Thornley is one of five Team Teal ambassadors involved this year, with the campaign running through to March 15. The other four ambassadors are Sam Ottley, Alicia Harrison, Crystal Hackett and Kirstin Green. In…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson shares his thoughts on Oamaru today.   

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Jordyn Bublitz’s first win in the sulky couldn’t have panned out much better. The 21-year-old was having just her second race day drive when Romeo Foxtrot, trained by her father Andrew, won the Agrowquip Handicap Trot at Cambridge last Thursday (January 26). The Majestic Son six-year-old started off 10 metres and immediately got handy, staying outside the pacemaking Safrakova before going to the line by more than a length. “To sit parked was not part of my plans really, it was plan D…

By Adam Hamilton Josh Dickie remains positive but realistic after Old Town Road’s horror barrier draw in Saturday night’s $500,000 Hunter Cup at Melton. Dickie, who part-owns the rising star of NZ harness, conceded it was hard for driver Zachary Butcher to have “any real plans” from outside the back row. “Unfortunately, somebody had to draw there and we’ve got to own it now,” he said. “There is no real plan from there and Zachary will have to take it as it comes. You’re dictated to by what happens speed-wise…

By Jonny Turner Gemma Thornley is hoping to get harness racing’s teal campaign off to a perfect start at Oamaru on Thursday. Thornley will compete as a teal ambassador in the annual campaign to raise funds for ovarian cancer research for the first time in 2023. It is an opportunity the junior reinswoman jumped at. “I definitely wasn’t going to turn it down, not only does it get my name out there a little bit more but it is also a really good cause.” Thornley is always striving to do…

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

Purdon spends big Champion harness racing trainer Mark Purdon’s been busy at this week’s NZB national yearling (thoroughbred) sales at Karaka, outlaying $400,000 on three colts. He started out by buying a Savabeel colt for $200,000 with brother Barry to share in the ownership. He plans to train the horse himself. Purdon described the experience as “a great thrill” and says he used the same principle as buying a standardbred at the sales.“Being from a top sire is like buying a Bettor’s Delight – we are pleased to get a…

Alexandra Park will be out of action for the whole of February at least after Auckland’s record rainfall in the past few days. The deluge resulted in widespread flooding at the northern venue and the extent of the damage has now become apparent. “The track needs a full reconstruction,” says Harness Racing New Zealand’s GM Racing, Catherine McDonald. McDonald and Track and Venues Inspector John Denton have been in Auckland to see the impact of the weather event that prompted a state of emergency to be declared. A heavy rain…