by Michael Guerin Ray Green may be way past a normal retirement age but he is still looking for his next good horse. “That doesn’t stop,” says Green, who just three seasons ago completed a New Zealand Cup double with Copy That. The 79-year-old still trains at Pukekohe, these days with Nathan Delany, and while they may not have a pin-up horse the stable is still a regular Friday night force. Their 23 training wins for the season, which in harness racing runs the calendar year, puts them second behind…
Category: Meeting Previews
Franco Sinatra tackles tough handicap at Addington
by Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety may be taking one of the best horses at the meeting in Franco Sinatra to Addington tonight but that won’t be the highlight of his harness racing weekend. Because tomorrow sees the return to the stable he runs with wife Chrissie and son Carter of arguably New Zealand’s best pacer Republican Party. The now mutiple Group 1 winner of the Auckland and Invercargill Cups as well as the Messenger and Roy Purdon Memorial, Republican Party has spent the last month on the water walker and…
ATC members to vote on Franklin Park sale in bid to save Auckland harness racing
by Michael Guerin The Auckland Trotting Club could finally dig itself out of a $120million financial hole with the potential sale of its training track to be voted on by members on July 23. But while the ATC board have to ask their members for permission to sell the Franklin Park training track in Pukekohe, in reality they either vote in favour of the sale or risk losing harness racing in the region all together. The ATC has been under enormous financial strain since the building of apartments with commercial…
Open Letter to the Racing Community: Adherence to Racing Codes of Conduct
To all participants, members, volunteers, employees, suppliers, and supporters of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Harness Racing New Zealand. New Zealand’s racing industry thrives because of the dedication, integrity, and passion of thousands of individuals, on the track, behind the scenes, and in our communities. Each of those individuals who run businesses, are employed, volunteer their time, or in other ways lend their positive support to racing and its participants play a vital role in ensuring our sport remains strong, inclusive, and future-focused. Unfortunately, there is a small minority of people…
Neals line up strong local hopes at Cambridge
Local trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal head to Cambridge Raceway tonight with two live chances, each well-placed to make an impact on the card. First up for the team is Two Francs, who lines up in Race 3, the IRT. Your Horse Our Passion Handicap Trot (6:13p.m.) The four-year-old Majestic Son gelding has always shown ability, but it’s been a matter of getting his race-day manners in line. If he can step away cleanly tonight, co-trainer Lyn Neal believes he’ll be right in the finish. “He’s the coolest horse but he’s just a…
Averil’s big day out ends in perfect fashion
by Jonny Turner Sunday was billed as Averil’s big day out, and it proved exactly that. Northern Southland owner Averil Fowler sponsored one of the feature events at Ascot Park in the Averil’s Big Day Out Gold Chip Final. The event was run just two races after Fowler watched her pacer Miki Cohen win at $21 odds for trainer-driver Kirstin Green. Both helped deliver a thrilling Sunday for Fowler and her crew of supporters who came to enjoy her big day out. The race carrying her name came about after…
Confident Butt backs Bet N Win to go all the way in Inter Dom
Bob Butt is letting his mind wander. An easy win on night one for Bet N Win and another great barrier draw in the second round of heats on Saturday night have Butt excited about tackling Saturday week’s $500,000 Grand Final. And who the main danger might be. Other than unexpected change of training bases when Bet N Win first arrived in Queensland, everything has gone superbly for the young trotting star during this Aussie raid. “Even having to change bases because of the beach situation near Vic (Frost) and…
Six to watch: Trial form on show this week
These 6 horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week (10/7/25) they head back to the racetrack. Abitibi (3f Sweet Lou – Utmost Delight) Trainer: G Rogerson Manners have let her down badly in 2 raceday runs thus far & consequently stood down to trial satisfactorily before returning to the track. Did that at Pukekohe (1/7/25) where she worked to the front and just got nutted by race rival Ifindoubt in a 2:05MR, last 800m in 58.7 although she wasn’t under any pressure in run home and took…
Tough draws for Kiwis on night two of Inter Dominion
by Adam Hamilton Millionaire Kiwi trotter Oscar Bonavena’s exasperating start to the Brisbane Inter Dominion series has taken another twist. Mark and Nathan Purdon’s superstar nine-year-old has drawn gate one – probably one draw they didn’t want – in his do-or-die second round heat at Albion Park next Saturday night. Oscar Bonavena has a history of galloping when put under pressure from inside front row draws. The awkward draw follows an opening night horror show where he was held-up and hit the line full of running in seventh place. Driver…
Duchess Of Kent’s speed streak continues
by Jonny Turner There is more to Duchess Of Kent than the brilliance she’s shown in her recent winning hat-trick. The three-year-old made it three-from-three this time in when speeding up the Ascot Park passing lane to win the Diamond Creek Farm & SBSR Silk Road Final on Sunday. Speed has been the key ingredient in Duchess Of Kent’s hat-trick of victories, with the filly settling handy in each before zipping home to score for driver Brent Barclay. As fast as she is, trainer Lauren Pearson thinks there is more…