McKendry to return home

One of New Zealand’s most successful harness racing reinsman will make a rare visit back to his old hometown to drive this weekend.

Maurice McKendry, the winner of more than 3000 races as a driver, will be the Methven Trotting Club’s guest driver at their annual March meeting at the Mt Harding Racecourse in Methven on Sunday.

The Methven club have made a point of inviting a North Island driver down to this particular meeting each year with recent visitors including Tony Herlihy and Todd Mitchell. Neither of the two drivers had driven a winner at Methven prior to being invited to be a guest driver. While Mitchell was unable to crack the win in two visits, Herlihy did manage to get his first winner on the grass surface when he drove Jackaroo Bromac to success three years ago.

McKendry however, has been successful at Methven in the past, albeit only once.

He won the 1997 Methven Cup when he teamed up with Steven Reid to get Tyler Foulden past the post first. He last drove at Methven in 2008 when finishing third on Zenad in the Methven Cup.

With his strong ties to the Methven area, having hailed from there as a young, aspiring horseman, McKendry’s appearance at Methven on Sunday will be somewhat of a homecoming.

Methven Trotting Club president, Ricky May – who himself has driven over 2,500 winners – said McKendry’s appearance will be great for the club.

“Maurice is one of the best in the business, everyone knows that,” May said.

“And to have him coming back to his hometown to drive is something we are really looking forward too.”

“Hopefully we can get him a good book of drives and see him in the winner’s circle at some point during the day.”

TAB Bookmakers have made an early indication that should both McKendry and May get a decent number of drives at the meeting each that there is enough scope there for a special option to be opened up for the two ‘Hometown Heroes’ to go head-to-head for the day.

Sunday’s meeting will be spear-headed by the running of the Country Cups final, which will be held at Methven for the first time.

Any trainers of horses racing at Methven on Sunday who would be keen to utilise the services of McKendry on their horse are asked to contact Matt Markham on 021912296.

Harness Racing New Zealand