By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Blair Orange has today become the youngest ever harness racing driver to bring up 3000 winners in New Zealand.
The Canterbury-based 47-year-old brought up the milestone winning with Always A Menace in Heat 11 of the World Driving Championship in front of friends and family at his home track, Addington.
“It hasn’t sunk in but it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said post race.
He is just the fourth driver to get to 3000, following on from Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and Ricky May.
Herlihy was the youngest driver previously, achieving the milestone at 52 years of age.
“Things are a lot different now, there are so many meetings and so many opportunities. To do what they have done just shows how great they are.”
From a non harness racing family the milestone has prompted Orange to reflect on how far he’s come.
“I was pretty average when I started out,” he says frankly, “specially when you think of how good some of the young ones are now.”.
His first win was with the Tim Butt-trained Whizza Nova at Reefton in 1996.
His first 100 win season was not until 2014. He has had 100 or more winners every season since, with his best tally being the 267 he had during the elongated 2021 season.
Along the way there have been so many huge moments.
“The first New Zealand Cup on a horse that was not the favourite – that was surreal. I remember thinking ‘how did that just happen?'”
That was 2019 with Cruz Bromac, the third stringer in the Mark Purdon – Natalie Rasmussen barn behind Thefixer and Spankem.
Later that week Orange completed the Cup – Dominion Trot double with Habibi Inta.
Orange has won the New Zealand Cup three times, also going back to back with Copy That in 2021 and 2022.
It was another Purdon horse that gave Orange his first Group 1 in 2005. It was the 2005 New Zealand 2YO Championship at Alexandra Park.
“It was with Jays Debut – that was a cool moment,”
“I also won the first ever Harness Jewels race with the one trained by Andrew Faulks.”
That was G T H Aveross , paying $81, in the 4YO Diamond at Ashburton in 2007.
In all Orange has won the last seven premierships, following on from Dexter Dunn who’d won 10 in a row before heading to North America where he’s now established as arguably the best driver in the sport.
Over the years Orange has also been a tireless supporter of Blue September, the annual fund-raiser for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer.
He’s done all sorts of stunts to promote the cause.
While he has been driving for 30 years he hopes he’s got plenty more to come.
One target potentially is overhauling Herlihy at the top of the winners’ leaderboard.
“Obviously Tony’s the most winningest driver – see how things progress over the next couple of years whether that is a target or not.”
“I’ve probably got another 10 years of what I’m doing but there will be a time to pull pin.”
But right now he is in a good space.
“I’m really enjoying life and the racing at the moment … mentally and personally.”
When he does decide to step back or away from what is currently a rigorous schedule he doesn’t have to look far for an heir apparent.
Teenage son Harrison Orange has been a sensation in the sulky since he started last year.
“I’m very proud of Harry.”
“I hope he is better than me, everyone wants their kids to be healthy first of all and happy and enjoying what they do – I get a massive thrill watching him.”
New Zealand’s 3000 win club – November 7, 2025
Tony Herlihy (3719)
Maurice McKendry (3429)
Ricky May (3190)
Blair Orange (3000)
