The remaining finalists have now been decided for the NZB Standardbred Harness Racing New Zealand Awards which will be held at Addington Raceway on Saturday, February 8. Last week the “Top Horse Contenders” were released. Today it is the “Other Awards” featuring Breeder of the Year, Owner of the Year, Pacing and Trotting Stallion and Broodmare of the year as well as this year’s Newcomer to Training and Stablehand of the Year. To see the “Other Awards” contenders please click here To see the “Top Horse contenders” please click here…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Momentum for Next Gen building in countdown to NZB Yearling Sales
With an additional $600,000 in bonuses annually for the next three years and funded by the TAB, the Harness Racing New Zealand’s Next Gen ownership initiative is gaining serious momentum, ahead of next month’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland and Christchurch. Next Gen is all about getting more and new people into “Owning The Thrill” of racing pacers and trotters. “It’s important to emphasise that everyone is eligible to get involved, it is for newcomers to racing as well as those who have owned and raced horses for decades,”…
New Waikouaiti president wants “lift in energy”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Jess Murphy wasn’t really expecting to be the new President of the Waikouaiti Trotting Club but now that she is, she is all in. “I’m really keen to get into it,” the 34-year-old says. She took over the job after being on the committee for the past “five or so” years. “I thought I’d be vice-president for a bit but when the president’s job came up my name was mentioned and it went from there.” As a Next Gen administrator she’s keen…
Bamford thinking big with stable star
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk North Canterbury trainer Tom Bamford is eyeing up more success at Blenheim this week after a training double at Nelson yesterday. Stable star Rakero Rocket and Light Me Up both won at Richmond Park to give the young trainer four wins from just seven starts so far in 2025. For Rakero Rocket it was his fourth win in his last six starts, highlighted by victory in the first ever Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington in December. “He’s exceeded expectations,” says Bamford, “to…
Republican Party confirmed for Hunter Cup
By Adam Hamilton Auckland and Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party will chase the Group 1 Hunter Cup. Co-trainer Cran Dalgety confirmed the five-year-old would be on a flight to Melbourne on Wednesday for what will likely be a three-race Victorian campaign. Surprisingly, Dalgety said Republican Party would then return home rather than head to Sydney for a tilt at the Miracle Mile. “He’s earned a go at Melbourne. He’s taken that next step from a nice horse to one who will be competitive with the very best,” Dalgety said. “We’d…
Nelson win dedicated to Denise Nyhan
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Margo Nyhan has been training winners for more than 20 years but yesterday’s victory with Knowing Me at Nelson was a stand out. It came just less than a fortnight after her mother Denise died “unexpectedly” at age 87. She suffered a stroke just before Christmas and died in Christchurch Hospital on December 29. “We tried really hard to get a win over on the Coast over Christmas time before Mum passed and we missed out but to get one yesterday was pretty special for…
Oscar Bonavena becomes 12th Australasian-bred trotting millionaire
By Michael Guerin In the end of the final push to the top of millionaire’s mountain was an easy one. It was probably always going to be for Oscar Bonavena, who had panels on his rivals in the IRT Cambridge Flying Stakes Trot at Cambridge on Thursday night. The nine-year-old was able to pull back to second last and after moving mid-race ended up in the one-one. From there the question was how big the margin would be. The answer: five-and-a-quarter lengths as he raced into the millionaire’s club without…
Orange with a host of good chances at Nelson today
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Sideshow Bruce has come a long way in a short time and today he’ll have to take another big step up. The Robert Stuart-trained Sweet Lou four-year-old has had three wins and a second in four career starts and at 7.09pm will carry local hopes in the day’s feature at Richmond Park, the $25,000 Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup. The country’s top driver Blair Orange will again drive Sideshow Bruce after guiding him to a winning double at Westport on Boxing Day and…
Selections | Nelson
Selections for Nelson Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Nelson Trottech Form Analyst Race 1 3.10pm 1 Copenhagen Girl2 Seaside Pond7 Stunna5 Racingmissgracie Race 23.47pm 1 Beside Me6 Miki Skipper2 Mandala3 American Blaze Race 34.23pm 4 Call Dudley6 Volstone3 Rosary5 Nellie Doyle Race 44.57pm 3 Captain Cool5 Lasa7 Itsallaboutthemoney8 Carrera Bandido Race 55.22pm 2 Just Holla8 Bondi Lustre3 Moonlite Blood6 Santanna Mach Race 65.49pm 5 Hi Hopes9 Sophia Bromac8 Social Distancing 3 Hope For Love Race 76.17pm 4 Bullit…
Bargain buy Kawhi delivers again
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Five-year-old trotter Kawhi has only been with the Keasts for a few weeks, and already he’s turning into a good buy. The Andover Hall gelding secured his second win in his last four starts, at Timaru yesterday. Purchased by Darren Keast Limited from auction site Gavelhouse in November for $8501 he has already covered his purchase price, with stakes earnings of around $10,000. “He’s a lovely horse and beautifully natured,” says Ashleigh Keast, “I think we are going to have a bit of…