Category: Harness

There is less than a month to go before owners, trainers and syndicators have to meet key eligibility criteria for the Next Gen bonus scheme. By October 1, 2025 Harness Racing New Zealand must be notified of the trainer details and the ownership group for any horse bought at the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. They will be 2YOs as of January 1, 2026. “The deadline is fast approaching, and we’re urging all owners, trainers, and syndicators to act now. Next Gen is about creating new opportunities and strengthening the…

By Michael Guerin Tim Williams knows things are about to step up a notch. And while the in-form Canterbury horseman knows he has the horsepower to keep being a factor at Addington on Friday nights he knows the winners which flowed so steadily over the winter will be more hard fought from now on. “Things are getting really competitive,” says Williams, the No.1 southern driver for Team Telfer. “You look how strong the trials are on Wednesday then the fields at Addington this Friday and everything is going up a…

By Adam Hamilton  Dual IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Swayzee will face a serious first-up challenge in the $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle (Sydney) next Saturday night. Sure he’s the best horse in the race, but the seven-year-old is first-up since April, not as well suited to sprinting as he is staying and faces some fit and firing rivals. Swayzee, who looked sharp winning a Menangle mile trial in 1min49.9sec last Wednesday, hasn’t started since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on…

By Mike Love  Ashburton will host the final Canterbury winter meeting today, dubbed the “Goodbye Winter Racing – Hello Spring Racing” race day.  Locals could well be to the fore throughout the day, especially trainer/driver John Morrison. He has a book of seven drives today, three of which look likely to start favourite. In Race 1, the Chertsey Trotting Club Pace over 2400m, Morrison trains and drives the opening favourite of the day, debutant Jesse Owens ($2.50FF). The four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding qualified over a year ago when trained by…

By Jonny Turner  The warm up starts for Rory McIlwrick at Winton on Sunday. The reinsman will be working to raise money throughout next month as an ambassador for harness racing’s Blue September campaign, which raises money for prostate cancer research. McIlwrick can go into his mission in good form judging by his book of drives at Winton. “I hope some of these horses don’t peak too early,” the reinsman quipped. “It is great to be raising money for a good cause, hopefully we can get some good results on…

By Jordyn Bublitz It was appropriate that Jay Abernethy’s ever reliable trotter Eagle Hanover got her Winter Reward at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night. “She’s an EFTPOS machine – she gets a cheque every week,” Abernethy told Track Chat’s Jo Ferguson post race. The five-year-old mare was three back the fence early in the first of the night’s four $20,000 Winter Rewards races before Abernethy went to the parked position and then surged to the lead at the 400, winning by two lengths. Eagle Hanover hasn’t finished worse than fifth…