Following a track inspection this morning it’s been decided that Easter Monday’s meeting at Motukarara will now go ahead at Addington. “We had no option but to make the call, there has been a decent amount of rain in Canterbury already with a lot more forecast,” says Harness Racing New Zealand’s Head of Racing and Wagering, Matthew Peden. Today representatives from HRNZ, the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club and a stipendiary steward all inspected the grass track at Motukarara. “The track is in reasonable order considering how much rain we’ve had…
Category: Meeting Previews
Blair Orange opts for Addington today
By Michael Guerin Our best driver is lamenting not being able to be in two places at once today. Blair Orange has had to forgo his drives at Alexandra Park tonight after that meeting was postponed on Thursday because of the Auckland weather, with Orange having flown to Auckland by the time the announcement was made. He will instead drive at the Addington day meeting today. “There isn’t much you can do about Mother Nature so I went up to Auckland and came back and will drive at Addington on…
Minor changes to Auckland’s weather-delayed meeting tonight
By Michael Guerin The two-day delay to tonight’s Alexandra Park meeting has only brought about only minor changes to the major races. Namely: Arafura out of the Northern Oaks Prelude while Got The Chocolates comes back into the Northern Derby Prelude. The meeting was to have been staged on Thursday night but was postponed because of high winds and constant rain in Auckland, both of which were gone by early Friday. So the meeting moves to tonight, overlapping with the Addington day fixture, with leading driver Blair Orange driving at…
OnTrack looking for new Board members
OnTrack, racing’s mental wellbeing programme, is seeking 2–3 Board Members. These are paid positions and the remuneration is $12K for Directors and $18K for the Chair. If you are interested in applying, please send your CV and Cover Letter to apply@amytea.co.nz before the closing date of 27 April 2025. To find out more click here
Miki’s the real deal in Fillies Classic
By Jonny Turner There’s no disputing that Miki’s Deal’s impressive debut win in the Group 2 Entain Southern Fillies Classic at Winton was a local triumph. The filly made the most of her trip in the one-one for driver Matthew Williamson, charging away from her rivals for an emphatic win. Miki’s Deal was raised by her breeders and owners, Marty and Daphne Fairbairn, who live just minutes from Central Southland Raceway, and she is trained by Winton committee member Brett Gray. The filly had had all of her trial outings…
Thursday’s Alexandra Park meeting postponed until Saturday
By Michael Guerin The Alexandra Park meeting postponed on Thursday because of shocking weather in Auckland will move to Saturday, but with one race less. The meeting is a crucial lead-up to next Friday’s five Group-1 race meeting at the same venue, with Thursday’s canned meeting scheduled to hold both the Oaks and Derby Preludes. But Cyclone Tam has brought heavy rainfall and strong winds and left thousands of homes in the upper North Island without power. Ferries have also been cancelled and many domestic flights in and out of…
HRNZ roadshows on “utilisation” changes
HRNZ is hitting the road in late April-early May. It will host roadshows from Invercargill to Auckland to explain the latest initiatives by the Utilisation Reference Group (URG) that have been endorsed by the HRNZ Board. Among the topics that will be addressed are : The Conduct of Race MeetingsHandicapping and Programming of RacesThe Rating SystemScratchingsOperating of the National BureauAmendments to Claiming Races. The schedule for the Roadshows is : Invercargill, 1 pm, Monday April 28 – RacecourseOamaru, 2pm, Tuesday April 29 – Racecourse, after the trialsTimaru, 11am, Wednesday 30…
Aussie set to make waves at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin One of the first stars of the new season pacing crop in Australia will make a surprise trip to Auckland next week. Bathurst Tiara-winning filly Ripples will come to Alexandra Park for a heat of the Young Guns Delightful Lady series next Friday and hopefully the $70,000 final on May 2. It will also mark a rare appearance in New Zealand for a horse trained by Victorian superstar Emma Stewart, who has had incredible success on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard but while the mega stable has threatened to…
Williams one to watch on Winton Cup day
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams will be doing everything he can to hold an early advantage with his best chances on Winton Cup Day. Williams will combine with a powerful line-up of drives, including key All Lay Carpet & Drapes Winton Cup runner Double Jeopardy and Seaside Rose, a major player in the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Final. Both will wear the number one saddlecloth and both will carry plenty of punter support. And if they are going to justify that faith, Williams knows making the best possible beginning will…
Oaks and Derby Prelude night at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Outstanding pacing filly Beside Me’s winning chances at Alexandra Park tonight have been given two mini boosts by the withdrawal of just one rival. The big Canterbury filly is the warm favourite for the Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks Prelude on a night when the three-year-olds take centre stage for a rare Thursday night meeting at The Park, the date change coming as there is no domestic racing on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. Tonight’s meeting sees Marketplace red hot to win the prelude to next Friday’s…