By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk It was a night of doubles for Arna Donnelly at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night. The local horsewoman secured a quinella in the Waikato Cup (2700m) before she doubled up a race later, getting another quinella in The Race 14th April Mobile Pace (2200m). Rough And Ready led home the stable quinella in the Waikato Cup after a positive drive from David Butcher who took luck out of the equation when he sent his charge forward to the lead with two laps to go.…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Stylish Memphis confirmed for The Race
by Adam Hamilton Mighty mare Stylish Memphis is heading back home for a tilt at the inaugural $900,000 The Race at Cambridge on April 14. And another fine Kiwi product, young gun horseman Jack Trainor, is going with her. The only question is when and how long Trainor returns home. “I’m super excited to get a chance to go back home and drive in a really big race like this, especially on a mare who’s been as great to me as Stylish Memphis,” Trainor said. “It’s happened pretty quickly. Jonesy…
Vale Cliff Thomas
A long-time harness racing owner and administrator, Cliff Thomas is being remembered as a “great guy” who loved racing, rugby and his family. He died in Morrinsville on Sunday night, aged 90. Cliff had a long association with trainer Nicky Chilcott, racing the likes of Shredder in the late 1990s, and Miss Sharvid. Barry Lichter has written a tribute to Cliff Thomas, to read it click here
Cup test for promising gelding
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk The Brent Mangos-trained Romeo Shard will face his stiffest task to date when he tackles the McMillan-Holmes 2022 Waikato Cup (2700m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday. The son of Bettor’s Delight has won three of his six starts to date and will be first-up since New Zealand Cup week in November. While pleased with his charge ahead of Thursday, Mangos said he hasn’t had the ideal preparation. “His work has been really good,” Mangos said. “To be fair on the horse last week the…
Perfect placement lands Purvis double
By Jonny Turner Matt Purvis found the right races for Will He Rock and Jennabella to notch a winning double at Oamaru yesterday. Will He Rock impressed in his first start for Purvis when powering to a four-length victory in race 3. The consistent Jennabella then claimed a winning double for Purvis and driver John Dunn by taking out race 8. Those victories made the long trip from Woodend well worth it for Purvis who ventured south to find confidence boosting races for his duo. “It is a good starting…
What outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis means for NZ
The New Zealand Equine Health Association has been working alongside MPI to address the current outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Australia. Here is a quick update on behalf of the NZEHA with further updates coming soon with the next steps for New Zealand.
Addington Weekly : March 9
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the Addington News – March 9 .
Shucking good time at Ascot Park
The most Southland of fund-raisers will be held at Ascot Park this weekend, and it’s all for Team Teal. At Saturday’s Northern Southland Trotting Club’s Autumn Cup meeting at Invercargill the currency of the day will be oysters. To raise money for Team Teal a total of 30 dozen oysters will be raffled. There will be six raffles of five dozen oysters each, drawn randomly throughout the day. The cost per ticket is $5. The tickets will be sold in booked and hospitality areas only, including the Alabar owners’ Room,…
News Briefs : March 9
Hororata leads the way : Turnover at harness racing meetings in this country over the last week topped $3.5m. The Hororata Trotting Club’s meeting on the grass at Methven on Sunday attracted the most turnover with $1,185,909, followed by Riverton ($720,402), Addington ($700,824), Auckland ($511,017), and Cambridge ($443,703). The weekly turnover, on par with the corresponding period last year, was $3,561,855. Dexter back : He’s back. And Dexter Dunn has wasted little time in making an impact at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. After an extended break in Florida, the…
McRae’s quartet at short odds
By Jonny Turner Steven McRae will be a popular man at Oamaru on Wednesday. The trainer takes four horses south and all four have opened at short quotes in their races’ fixed odds markets. Franco Norton looks a good thing in race 9 following his desperately unlucky last start Cromwell and his nice trial since. McRae agrees in principle. “On paper he looks the one you’d be picking.” “But when you spend every day with him you probably see a few little fishhooks.” “He is a lovely horse, but he…