By Michael Guerin Outstanding harness driver Zachary Butcher is going to try what no other New Zealand horseman has been able to successfully pull off before – becoming a true inter-island reinsman. Butcher has revealed his plans to start travelling every weekend between his base in the North and Canterbury to drive at predominantly Addington Friday night meetings. His move has been spurred by two things, one personal, the other professional. Butcher’s partner is Canterbury-based Laura Dalgety, the daughter of top trainers Cran and Chrissie. The second is a desire…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Strong trotting contingent for South Auckland barn
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett will once again have a strong contingent of trotters at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The husband-and-wife duo will have a three-pronged attack in the Primor Produce Hanidcap Trot (2700m), including Special Way, Invictus, and Kings Landing. Invictus heads into the race after a last start victory and his trainers expect another honest showing from their charge, while they believe Special Way is their leading chance if he can make it to the front. “Invictus’ pet distance is…
New price highlight for gavelhouse.com Standardbred
In a boon for the New Zealand standardbred industry, Albuquerque will remain in the country despite fierce competition for her from Australia in Wednesday’s gavelhouse.com Standardbred auction. Herself a black-print winner over 2,400m by Bettor’s Delight, Albuquerque is a full sister to dual Group One winner Alberto Contador and black-print winner Duke of Albany. Already the dam of two to race, both with black-print when catalogued, a smart win in the Gr.3 Helen Pope 2yo Fillies Stakes by Millwood Nike at Ashburton on Sunday was a timely boost. Hitting her…
Leading trainer joins HRNZ Board
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Harness Racing New Zealand has welcomed one of the country’s leading trainers to their board this week. Robert Dunn has been appointed the Auckland Trotting Club’s representative following the departure of Shaun Brooks, who leaves after a change in work circumstances. Dunn has had a lifelong involvement in harness racing and feels it is the right time to step back into racing administration, a facet of the industry he was heavily involved in earlier in his life. “I have had a lifelong experience to…
Update from the Chair
The dust certainly doesn’t have time to settle at HRNZ as the leadership and HRNZ Board continue to reshape our sport mindful of the responsibilities they have under different Acts of Parliament. The Health and Safety Act 2015 places many responsibilities on employers and contractors which impact on our sport and have implications for clubs and HRNZ in running race meetings and venues. Just as we thought we had a good understanding of that Act, along came the Racing Industry Act 2020 which has required a whole new understanding and…
Addington Weekly : June 8
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the Addington News – June 8
The end of the road for Orari racecourse
The days of harness racing on the grass at the Orari track in South Canterbury are numbered. It’s been decided that the venue will host two more meetings in November 2022 and in the autumn 2023, before it closes by July 2023. The decision comes after a Sapere report looking at racing venues. Among its many conclusions was one that Orari does not have a long term future as a racing venue. It’s the second Sapere report following a similiar review of Otago and Southland. Harness Racing New Zealand has…
News Briefs : June 8
Farewell to a legend The funeral of an Australian harness racing legend will be held tomorrow. Josie Justice, the mother of John and Lance Justice, died last week on her 91st birthday. Her last winner was with High In The Sky in January this year. Since her death the Justices have dedicated victories with Rock Nien (Maryborough) and Helluva (Melton) to their mother who was a trailblazer and a true harness racing pioneer. Among her best horses was 22-time winner Bravado Pride. Triple Eight goes for three from three Former…
Shanna Walters – the latest HERO educator
Shanna Walters hasn’t got far to look to see the potential of the standardbred. The star horse on the dairy farm she manages in Southland is Run Fatboy Run, a former racehorse who’s now a star in the show ring. Now 13, he won 13 starts and over $100,000 on the track on both sides of the Tasman before retiring in 2016. After re-educating him to saddle Walters and “Fat Boy” have since formed quite the relationship – “this is his forever home”. “He has a real ‘look at me’…
Telfers tipped to take trainers’ premiership
By Michael Guerin Premiership leading trainer Steve Telfer says his stable is ready for the title battle even if they could lose their lead in coming weeks. Telfer and training partner/sister Amanda hold a one-win lead in the premiership over the All Stars, the champion trainers having closed the gap with a big week last week. While Michael House on 39, Greg and Nina Hope on 38 and Robert and Jenna Dunn on 35 are all within realistic striking distance the TAB, probably quite rightly, have the Telfers at $1.45…