Already a history-maker, Take After Me has now become the first horse to be Harness 5000 eligible.
The new Harness 5000 race meeting will be held at Ashburton on December 21, with a total of 12 $60,000 finals for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception.
The finals will be for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older Fillies and Mares and Colts, Geldings and Entires, for both gaits
This year the qualifying period is from July 3 to December 9, 2025 and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts within this period.
The Fred Scott-trained Take After Me (Holmes Hanover) is the first horse to have met this criteria. The 14-year-old had his fifth start this month when he ran third at Addington yesterday. He is eligible for the 5YO Colts, Geldings and Entires Trot.
“It is fitting that a horse like Take After Me, who has stood the test of time, is the first horse in 2025 to become qualified for the Harness 5000,” says Harness Racing New Zealand’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.
“He’s been a grand campaigner throughout his career and had 21 starts this year already. He is certainly deserving of racing for the good money that is on offer on Harness 5000 day.”
In March Take After Me made history by becoming the first ever standardbred to have 400 starts in this country. He has now had a total of 408 starts – 284 as a trotter (17 wins) and 124 as a pacer (4 wins).
Qualifying for the Harness 5000 Finals will be done solely on stake money won, with the top 14 in each category making the cut.
A leaderboard is now on the hrnz website and has updated information for all 12 categories.
It can be seen here
“Over the ensuing weeks and months it’s going to be exciting to see these fields take shape as more and more horses become eligible,” says Peden.
“We are confident the Harness 5000 is going to be a big success.”
Harness Racing New Zealand is committed to running the series for at least the next 5 years, with the qualifying period in 2026 between January 1 and November 29.
