1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship - Wilson House

The 2026 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held in New Zealand from the 4^th November with it’s 9 heats run at Cambridge, Alexandra Park and Ashburton and the final heat run on 10^th November at Go Media New Zealand Cup Day at Addington.

This will be the second Young Drivers Championship for twenty two year old New Zealander Wilson House.

He represented the country last year when the Championship was held in Brisbane.

“It was pretty cool because it was on at the same time as the Interdominions and we got to see Leap To Fame. It was in the middle of winter here so going over there was quite nice,” Wilson says.

Although some are saying the Kiwi trio of House, Crystal Hackett and Carter Dalgety has a hometown advantage, Wilson doesn’t see it that way.

“None of the three New Zealanders drive as much as the Australians do. That’s what it comes down to.”

House says the Australian style is more aggressive than that in New Zealand.

“Everywhere else in the world focusses on making the horse go as quick as possible and the overall time. New Zealanders focus on sprinting as hard as they can off the gate and for the last 200 metres. That’s why we’ve been outdriven in all the big races in the last ten years.”

House says The Present Maker is the best horse he’s driven.

The eight year old trotter has won eight of his twenty five starts for trainer Ann-Marie and Jack Best with House in the cart for six of those wins.

“He tries hard and is very genuine and that’s how he wins most of his races. He’s back in work and should be racing around Christmas time.”

House, who won the New Zealand Junior Drivers Premiership last year has worked for his father Michael for most of his harness racing career.

“I also worked for Chris Ryder and Mark Harder in America for a couple of months.”

The 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship kicks off at Alexandra Park in Auckland next Wednesday and House is looking forward to it.

“The most enjoyable part of the Series is getting to meet people of your age with a common interest. It’s a lot of fun and you make lifetime friends.”

New Zealand drivers have been successful nine times – Sam Thornley 2024, Sarah O’Reilly 2019, Sheree Tomlinson 2018, Robbie Close 2015, Andre Poutama 2014, Joshua Dickie 2011, Jay Abernethy 2006, Mark Jones 1999 and Laura Pearson in 1998.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink