Republican Party named NZ Horse of the Year

A four-time Group 1 winner in 2025, Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) was named harness racing’s Horse of the Year at the awards night in Christchurch tonight.

The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained star was given the top gong at tonight’s annual NZB Standardbred HRNZ awards at Addington Raceway in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 300.

Republican Party won nine races from 16 starts during the year, including the Group 1 Auckland – Invercargill Cup double for the second year in a row.

He’d earlier taken out the 5YO and older Gelding or Entire of the Year award, beating, among others, Merlin and Leap To Fame, and was then named Pacer of the Year.

Katrina and John Price (Price Bloodstock) who bred Republican Party were named Breeder of the Year.

The 4YO Entire/Gelding Pacer of the Year was taken out by all-conquering Australian visitor Kingman (Always B Miki) who won two from two in this country – the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Group 1 Christian Cullen.

Trotter of the Year was Bet N Win (What The Hill). Trained by David and Stacey White, Bet N Win won six from 14 on both sides of the Tasman in 2025, highlighted by victory in the Reharvest Group 1 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.

He’d earlier been voted 5Y0 and older Gelding/Entire of the Year, ahead of Australian Gus who created such a big impression during Cup week with his double in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and the NZ Free For All on Show Day.

The winner of the 4YO category was one of the big movers in the trotting ranks in this country in Hillbilly Blues (What The Hill). He won seven from 18 in 2025 including the Group 1 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot on New Year’s Eve at Alexandra Park.

One of the night’s most eagerly-anticipated categories was in the 3YO Colts/Entires after Marketplace and Got The Chocolates were involved in an incredible rivalry throughout 2025. They won five races each in 2025.

In the end it was Marketplace (Bettor’s Delight), who won the Group 1 New Zealand Pacing Derby, who got the nod.

Philip and Glenys Kennard, who are in the ownership group of Marketplace and Bet N Win, were named Owners of the Year.

Trainers of the Year Steve and Amanda Telfer (Stonewall Stud) were recognized for their record-breaking year. They had 171 wins in 2025, eclipsing the old 12-month mark set by Roy and Barry Purdon in 1993-94.

The Newcomer to Training award was won by Benjamin Butcher, who had eight winners in 2025 in what was his second season of training. He has also driven over 300 winners.

Blair Orange secured his eighth consecutive Drivers Premiership with 168 wins while Wilson House (94 wins) got his first in the Junior Drivers’ Premiership and Monika Ranger won the award for having the best strike-rate of any junior driver. She finished 2025 with 23 wins from 129 drives and a UDR of .2980.

Cadet of the Year went to Southlander Riley Black ahead of Stonewall Stud stable driver Nikita Burton while Bailey Anderson was named Stablehand of the Year and the year’s Unsung Hero and Outstanding Contribution awards went to Richard Bromley and industry heavyweights Ken and Karen Breckon.

The Moment of the Year, which was decided by public vote, went to Jim Curtin for winning his 100th race at Westport’s Patterson Park with Transtasman Bubble on Boxing Day.

The full list of winners are

Emblems New Zealand Ltd 2YO Trotting Filly Of The Year – Duchess Maria (Father Patrick)

Dunstan Horse Feeds 2YO Pacing Filly Of The Year – All Of Me (Downbytheseaside)

Clarkson Signs 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year – Kyvalley Ray (Bold Eagle)

Tyre General 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year – Jumal (Downbytheseaside)

Gavelhouse Newcomer to Training – Benjamin Butcher

OnTrack 3YO Trotting Filly Of The Year – Ya Rite Darl (What The Hill)

Harnesslink 3YO Pacing Filly Of The Year – Arafura (Sweet Lou)

thetrots.nz 3YO Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year – Meant To Be (Father Patrick)

Majestic Horse Floats 3YO Pacing Colt or Gelding Of The Year – Marketplace (Bettor’s Delight)

Leading UDR Junior Driver – Monika Ranger

Garrards Horse and Hound 4YO Trotting Mare Of The Year – Princess Sadie (Muscle Mass)

Breckon Farms 4YO Pacing Mare Of The Year – Francent (Vincent)

Hotel Montreal 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding Of The Year – Hillbilly Blues (What The Hill)

Own The Thrill 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding Of The Year – Kingman (Always B Miki)

Next Gen Stablehand Of The Year – Bailey Anderson

Roseland Racing 5YO & Older Trotting Mare Of The Year – I Dream Of Jean-

Nie (Pegasus Spur)

Kentuckiana Lodge 5YO & Older Pacing Mare Of The Year – Lakelsa (Captaintreacherous)

The NZ Horse Ambulance Trust 5YO & Older Trotting Entire or Gelding Of The Year – Bet N Win (What The Hill)

Woodlands Stud 5YO & Older Pacing Entire or Gelding Of The Year – Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight)

Happy Hire Best Moment Of The Season – Jim Curtin winning his 100^th Westport race

HERO Outstanding Contribution to Life After Racing – Elizabeth Chappell

The Breeders Trotting Broodmare Of The Year – Kylie Ree

The Breeders Pacing Broodmare Of The Year – Imaginary Bet

Haras des Trotteurs Trotting Stallion Of The Year – What The Hill

Auckland Trotting Club Pacing Stallion Of The Year – Bettor’s Delight (14^th year)

The Breeders Breeder Of The Year – John & Katrina Price

Addington Raceway Owner Of The Year – Philip & Glenys Kennard

Fibre Fresh Cadet of the Year Runner Up – Nikita Burton

Southern Harness Leading Junior Driver – Wilson House

Fibre Fresh Cadet of the Year – Riley Black

TAB Leading Driver – Blair Orange

The Commodore Hotel Leading Trainer – Steve and Amanda Telfer

hrnz.co.nz Media Award – John Curtin

NZB Standardbred Trotter Of The Year – Bet N Win (What The Hill)

Diamond Racing Pacer Of The Year – Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight)

Club Merit Awards Chris Pearce, Dianne Dynes, Michael Douglas, Leona Prendergast, Ashburton Trotting Club and Winton Harness Racing Club

Harness Racing NZ Unsung Hero – Richard Bromley

Harness Racing NZ Outstanding Contribution to Harness Racing – Ken and Karen Breckon

NZB Standardbred Horse Of The Year – Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight)

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink