Category: Harness

By Michael Guerin Chase A Dream is not only back but Queensland-bound. The big improver of the last month, winning the Flying Mile at Cambridge before chasing Leap To Fame home in the Race By Betcha, has accepted an invitation to the Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 5. Co-trainer Mark Purdon hopes that four-year-old can win the A$300,000 Rising Sun to springboard himself into the A$1million Inter Dominion Final two weeks later without needing to contest any of the Inter Dom heats. If Chase A Dream, or any…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   A eight hectare property in harness racing heartland is currently on the market. Located in Canterbury, between Rolleston and West Melton, the property featuring an oval training track will go to auction in early May. For “coming up four years” it’s been home for dual code trainer Jackie Burrows and her family.   “It’s a niche property .. but it has so much potential,” she says. The property, on Newtons Road, includes a four bedroom house, two cottages, bar room with guest…

The Southern Region is set to deliver two outstanding days of top-class harness racing this April, with Winton and Invercargill each hosting feature race days. Winton Cup Day — Thursday, 17 April, Central Southland Raceway The Winton Harness Racing Club’s signature meeting returns, headlined by the Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace, a $70,000 race. This year the club is delighted to welcome All Lay Carpets & Drapes on board as new sponsors of the Winton Cup. The day’s action-packed programme features: · The Group 2 Entain 2YO Fillies…

A life after racing for Standardbreds can include all manner of things – from trekking and back country adventures to eventing and the show ring. And for one particular group of Canterbury-based Standardbreds and their NZSRA (NZ Standardbred Riding Association)  member riders it is all about doing what they enjoy. “This is not the sort of competing we do often – it’s just about having fun and testing all the hard work we have put into our horses,” says one of the team members Melissa Whyte, a well-known owner and…

By Mike Love  Ashburton trainer John Morrison trained a double at yesterday’s Methven meeting, bringing up his 50th training success in the process.  In Race 1, the Methven Resort and Opuke Hot Pools Trot Lottie’s Moment was far too strong. Driven by Morrison the four-year-old Majestic Son mare began well from their unruly mark to settle midfield. Peeling at the top of the straight, Morrison let the mare down, showing a strong turn of foot to burst away and win by three lengths from runner up Macho Man.   “She…

By Michael Guerin Winning any races with your mates is one of horse racing’s great joys. Winning a Group 1 is even more special. Two long-time friends combined both into the same first when We Walk By Faith stormed to victory in the Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.  The NZ Derby winner is trained by Hayden Cullen and wife Amanda and was driven by Matthew White, with Hayden and Matty having known each other since they were 16-year-old lads growing up in Cambridge.  But remarkably this was…