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Colin Hair, a highly respected figure within New Zealand’s standardbred breeding community, passed away on Monday following a short battle with cancer, surrounded by family and loved ones. Hair was involved in harness racing for three decades through both governance and breeding, but it was as a small breeder he realised an extraordinary result that […]
There are few stallions in Australasia who can boast the combination of pedigree, performance and progeny like Raging Bull, standing at South West Slopes Equine in Cootamundra. He has become a sire whose results have far outweighed the opportunities afforded to him, and when you look back at his own career and bloodlines, it’s little […]
Phil and Christine Smith had double the reason to celebrate at Addington Raceway earlier this month when they enjoyed a rare race-to-race double with a pair of horses they not only bred, but own and race. The Coaster Howe-trained duo of Berretini (Sportswriter) and Cormoran Strike (Creatine) have been stalwarts through the winter months, and […]
Cam Bray isn’t one to overplay a hand. But as the 2025 NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale approaches, the Head of Standardbred at New Zealand Bloodstock carries a quiet confidence in his voice—and for good reason. “Going into it, I’m quietly confident,” says Bray. “What’s been really interesting is the added exposure from running the sale alongside the […]
If the measure of a broodmare is in the heart she puts into her foals and the dreams she brings to life, then Stardon (Sundon–Chiquita Dee), or Sundee as she was known to her connections, wasn’t just any mare – she was a matriarch, a miracle, and the beating heart behind one of the great […]
If you were asked at a pub quiz who is the leading stake earner for North Island harness racing two and a bit months into the season, it’s highly unlikely many pundits would have a Rating 61 trotter on their answer cards. The Cambridge Raceway trained Romeo Foxtrot (Majestic Son) has kicked off 2025 in […]
The West Coast and Buller districts of the South Island is a region known for its dramatic landscapes, rich history, and strong connections to industries such as mining, forestry, and dairy farming. Also woven into the tapestry of this incredible community is the sport of harness racing, particularly in the town of Westport where local […]
Double Time may have won the feature at Sunday afternoon’s North Canterbury harness racing meeting, taking out the Rangiora Classic on the grass. But it was also a case of ‘double time’ for Graeme Court, Blair Orange and dual hemisphere stallion, Lazarus. The Pinelea Farm trained duo of Lazarus progeny, Jena & Quicker Than Quick, […]
The dream harness racing run of Janet and Peter Argus and their extraordinary broodmare, Liberty City (The Pres), was further embellished last night at Alexandra Park with success in the G3 Northern Breeders Trotting Stakes. Most trotting enthusiasts are familiar with the deeds of the full sisters, Empire & Atlantic City, with the former being […]
The aptly named pacing mare, Troubleshooter (Sunshine Beach), has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough for Methven harness racing trainer, Mike Heenan, for a while now. The four-year-old resumed from a six month spell in early December with a handy placing at Oamaru and had run three further placings in her nine starts […]
When North Canterbury horsewoman, Laura Smith, walks a yearling into the ring, there’s a high chance smart harness racing judges have it circled in their books. Smith has been preparing yearlings for the Christchurch sales for around 15 years now, and her steady rise to being the four time leading consignor in the South Island […]
The New Zealand harness racing sales head to Christchurch tomorrow with around 200 yearlings set to go under the hammer at the latest instalment of the NZB Standardbred sales. For Todd and Fleur Anderson of Winton, the 2025 edition comes on the back of having recently been crowned Breeder of the Year at the HRNZ […]
Nobody forgets their first success in the sport of harness racing, whether it’s a winning drive, your first win as an owner or maybe just seeing a horse you bred getting the job done. For Norm Leacock-Jones, yesterday afternoon’s Banks Peninsula meeting will live long in the memory banks as the day he trained his […]
The sliding doors effect of harness racing was on full display lastnight for Ross Houghton and the Dancingonmoonlight camp. Having won the first juvenile race of the new season with the talented but recently sold Showmethetanlines (Downbytheseaside), his stablemate and runner up from a fortnight ago, Incentivise (Bettor’s Delight), stepped up and filled the void […]
Pukekohe horseman, Andre Poutama, will be hoping for a belated birthday present when harness racing returns to Alexandra Park tomorrow night (Feb 14). Poutama turns 33 today (Feb 13), and like most involved in the industry, is spending the day working tirelessly at his craft with little room for sentiment when it comes to special […]
Macca Lodge, located in the Riversdale district of Northern Southland, has significantly influenced New Zealand’s harness racing industry as a premier nursery for Standardbred talent in the Deep South. Since taking over in 2008, Brent and Sheree McIntyre, and later joined by their son Caine have only furthered the reputation of the 600-acre stud farms […]
Studholme Bloodstock is one of New Zealand’s leading Standardbred horse nurseries and the birthplace of some of the best harness racing horses in Australasia. Brian West is the man responsible for having bred or co-bred 279 individual winners in New Zealand, achieving a combined total of 943 race victories. Among these are prestigious races such as […]
Studholme Bloodstock is one of New Zealand’s leading Standardbred horse nurseries and the birthplace of some of the best harness racing horses in Australasia. Brian West is the man responsible for having bred or co-bred 279 individual winners in New Zealand, achieving a combined total of 943 race victories. Among these are prestigious races such […]
Australasia’s greatest pacing product this side of the millennium looks set for a big season as with his stallion career at a critical juncture. Having had to endure the 2024 New Zealand harness racing season without a single juvenile in the two-year-old crop, Lazarus’ 18 three-year-old’s from his first crop acquitted themselves well, particularly the […]
Last week New Zealand harness racing fans were treated to the first juvenile race of the 2025 season with the Ross Houghton trained Showmethetanlines (Downbytheseaside) putting his hand up as the most forward of the Canterbury two-year-old’s with his triumph at Addington Raceway. This Friday night at Alexandra Park, the North Island juveniles get their […]
There is always a bit of excitement when harness racing’s new wave of juveniles make their way to the races, and yesterday at Addington Raceway was no different for a variety of reasons. Firstly the field of six were under the umbrella of two trainers at contrasting stages of their careers, with Ken Barron no […]
This afternoon (31 Jan) at Addington Raceway, harness racing fans will be treated to the first juvenile race of the new season when half a dozen two-year-old pacers greet the starters gate to open their careers in the SBSR White Stables 2yo Mobile Pace. The six horse field in the sixth race on the programme […]
When little Ruby Ridge (Majestic Son) joined the harness racing stable of Peter and Vaughan Blanchard, she did so as a one win mare with over 27 starts to her name. Five seasons later she has banked over $130,000 and is the winner of 10 races and 22 placings. To say the bonny wee mare […]
Jamie Arbuckle is a Marlborough District Councillor with over 13 years’ experience in local government. He has worked across all facets of Council, is an RMA Hearings Commissioner, and Chair of the Economic, Finance & Community Committee. Arbuckle is well known in the Marlborough district for his time at local markets and for his family’s […]
