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On Friday night three NZB Standardbred Sales Series races will be held at Addington. The series has been held since 1992, at which time PGG was the Sales Company running the National Sales. We take a look back at those inaugural winners at Alexandra Park. In 1992 the Sales Series for Two Year Old Trotters […]
The first of the big money meetings this spring will be held at Addington on Friday night with $720,000 in stakes spread across the twelve races and most of the big named horses in attendance. Northerners Apollo Eleven, Ride The Waves and Lucky Luka will get to measure themselves against their southern counterparts while some […]
Harrison Orange looks forward to sharing the big harness racing stage with champion Leap To Fame in the Go Media New Zealand Cup in November. “It’ll be cool to be in a race with him,” he said. Better Knuckle Up’s (Bettor’s Delight) win last night at Alexandra Park means Orange will experience two firsts – […]
While some of her higher profile opposition went to war, Fly High (Bettor’s Wish) in the cool hands of Harrison Orange sat back, watched the race upfold and came with the last run to dab Ride The Wave and Ripples in last night’s harness racing heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Alexandra Park. […]
Driver Tony Herlihy knew Belle Biddy (Bettor’s Delight) had the horsepower to lead early and outstay her ten rivals in the $100,000 Group One Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic at Alexandra Park tonight. “I wasn’t sure how much gate speed she had but she’s learning all the time and she’s quite strong with […]
Class could prevail but we can expect Merlin, Better Knuckle Up, Meant To Be and Higher Power to improve after they race at Alexandra Park on Friday night. That’s the word from Scott Phelan who trains in partnership with Barry Purdon. The barn has two runners, Higher Power (Father Patrick) and Meant To Be (Father […]
Brad Steele is the new CEO of the Auckland Trotting Club and has been in the job for a month. He’s charged with the challenge of getting the Club back into a strong financial position and making Alexandra Park a vibrant northern harness racing venue once again. Bruce Stewart put some questions to Steele about […]
Nathan Purdon is presenting some strong horsepower at Alexandra Park tomorrow night with smart two year old Coal Fire returning to racing in the first heat of the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes. Listen to what Nathan has to say about each of his runners. Race One: Wat Next (Art Major) – driver Mark Purdon – […]
Top Northern reinsman Zachary Butcher is expecting to be back driving at the trials tomorrow and at Alexandra Park on Friday. “I’m getting it all sorted. I had the Careway Programme ring me today and they’re happy with progress. I see the doctor tomorrow to get his clearance and (will) drive at the trials tomorrow […]
More than 20 leading stakeholders from across the Australasian harness racing industry came together at the recent Auckland Harness Summit 2026, sending a strong message that the industry is ready to move from managing decline to planning for growth. Hosted by the Auckland Trotting Club (ATC) at Alexandra Park, the Summit brought together owners, trainers, […]
There’s no better way to advertise your breeding brand than having winners on the racetrack and the Southern Bred Southern Reared brand had them in spades last night. The southern group who breed and sell as a collective, last night recorded three winners at Alexandra Park and four at Addington. And there’s the promise of […]
The stunning record-breaking harness racing win by Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in Saturday’s 2026 Racing and Sports The Rising Sun, has been a few years in the making. The four year old mare was bred by Todd and Fleur Anderson of Taffy Limited and purchased as a weanling by Mick Boots. “It depends on what they […]
After resigning from his role as CEO of Harness Racing New Zealand in April, Australian Brad Steele will return to New Zealand to assume the role of CEO of the embattled Auckland Trotting Club. Brad Steele answered some written questions put to him by Harnesslink. Can you confirm when you officially commence the role? I’m […]
Got The Chocolates (Art Major) was ruthless in dealing to tonight’s harness racing field in the $100,000 G1 Dawson Harford New Zealand Messenger at Alexandra Park. GOT THE CHOCOLATES REPLAY The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained four year old trailed early with Swayzee and The Lazarus Effect taking turns at leading and with Got […]
There are two trotting races Canterbury harness racing horseman Ben Hope has been hanging out to win, and when he won the $200,000 G1 Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park tonight it became one down, one to go. Hope secured the perfect trip with Mr Love (Love You) whom he also trains with his father […]
Canada is calling talented pacing mare Francent (Vincent) who has her final harness racing start on NZ soil tonight at Alexandra Park. Sold into the stable of Canadian horseman Jacques Dupont, the 12-win mare is a $1.40 favourite to win tonight’s Charles Roberts N.I.S.B.A Stakes in Auckland, looking to sign off on a successful harness […]
Southland harness racing trainer Nathan Williamson will be looking for a change in luck when he lines up Indulge Me (Downbytheseaside) tonight at Alexandra Park in the $200,000 G1 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Final. In last Friday’s Northern Oaks she was severely checked at the 800. “I’m happy with her. She’s […]
Waiuku harness racing trainer Michelle Wallis admits the buildup for her trotter Hillbilly Blues (What The Hill) hasn’t been ideal going into tonight’s Reharvest Rowe Cup. “He was crook last time, we got him scoped after he raced and he had a respiratory infection. We’ve treated him for that, he’s working good enough and seems […]
Canterbury trained trotter Kawatiri Trev (Marcoola) steps into group harness racing racing for the first time tomorrow night but that isn’t fazing master trotting trainer Paul Nairn. “It’ll be a test but I’d like to think he’ll be able to compete with that good one of Brent Lilley’s (Kyvalley Ray) and the one of Dunn’s […]
“It’s going to be harder this week. Being 2700 metres, I was hoping to drive him a bit quieter, but with the draw, it’s forced my hand and I’m just going to have to go forward,” said the driver of The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus) Bob Butt, when assessing his chances in tomorrow’s G1 $100,000 Dawson […]
Winton trainer Chelsea Faithful took a leap of faith in taking her three year old filly Ideal Crown (American Ideal) to Auckland for the Group One $100,000 Pascoes the Jewellers Northern Oaks, but she had unwavering belief in her horse. “For someone like me that only trains a half a dozen, it’s not every day […]
Driving his first Group One winner tonight, young Canterbury driver Seth Hill demonstrated that harness racing in this country is in good hands. “It sounds pretty good. It’s an amazing feeling. It was awesome,” Hill said after winning the $100,000 G1 Pascoes the Jewellers Northern Oaks with Cath, (Sweet Lou) who is trained by his […]
His owners, trainers and driver didn’t give Got The Chocolates (Art Major) much show after the talented pacer got locked away three back on the inside with Swayzee and The Lazarus Effect in front of him. But tonight the exciting pacer had other ideas. “At the top of the straight we thought we didn’t have […]
Jumal (Downbytheseaside) got back into the winning groove when he dominated from the top to win the $200,000 G1 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby at Alexandra Park tonight. Trained by Steven Reid, the super talented three year old was made a hot favourite as soon as the draws came out and he lobbed barrier one. “We […]
