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While winter proved a disappointing time for David and Stacey White with the retirement of their harness racing stable star Bet N Win, it has also paved the way for a new name to shine. The couple and their young family have recently moved to train out of the Ashburton Racecourse and are developing a […]
Australian trotting megastar Keayang Zahara (Volstead) will miss this year’s Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday, November 10. The now five-year-old harness racing mare pulled up short in her action after training on Wednesday, with further testing revealing an issue in a hind leg. “She has a slight strain in her back leg” […]
After making Cup Week his own last year, Queensland’s trotting hero Gus is bound for Addington once again. The last start Inter Dominion Champion was one of six Australian-trained trotters nominated for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion when the entrants were released early last week. With the Grand Final of the Inter Dominion staged only […]
Tom Bagrie isn’t afraid to admit that it’s “nervous times” as he prepares to embark on his maiden international racing campaign. But with the right horse, and juicy stake money on offer, it seems the time is right. Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Oaks winner Dash Dosh will contest the $150,000AUD The Great Square for […]
While it’s been ‘close but no cigar’ for Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) this Kiwi campaign, he gets his best chance at more Group 1 harness racing success when he lines up from the inside draw in tonight’s Dawson Harford New Zealand Messenger (8.57pm) at Alexandra Park. Running third in $1m The Race by Sport […]
t’s been almost a week since the fifth iteration of the Night Of Champions at Cambridge and the racing world is still abuzz about an evening the harness racing industry should be proud of. Not only should we be proud, but it should also act as a springboard to what could be a huge 2026 […]
Tetrick (Timoko) was like his namesake when notching his first win in New Zealand at Oamaru on Wednesday. The Australian-bred and owned squaregaiter showed his true worth when putting the mistakes he had made in his first two starts on this side of the Tasman firmly behind him. Tetrick is named after North American driving […]
When American Me (American Ideal) combined to win the 2023 edition of the Invercargill Cup, it was a transitional moment for driver Sarah O’Reilly. It seemed to signal her evolution from champion junior harness racing driver to genuine big race contender. Dominating the junior driver’s premiership for three years, it proved that with opportunities at […]
When Craig Wiggins drove out of Mt Harding Racecourse on Sunday evening he was likely filled with many emotions. Mainly pride and admiration, but also a tinge of sadness after officially calling time on his partner JB’s professional career as a clerk of the course. At 22 years of age, “Wiggy” felt it was an […]
“It was a really good starting point” – that was Trackside presenter Brittany Graham’s assessment of her trotter Tetrick’s first trial in this country. The Timoko three-year-old, formerly based in Queensland, lined up in a six-horse Pacers mobile trial at Rangiora today (Tuesday). “He’d never been in a mobile race before and he settled at […]
Is Kingman (Always B Miki) coming? That question will be answered tomorrow (Thursday) by his owner Mick Harvey on whether the $28,750 late payment is lodged for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup. Another hurdle was jumped today, however, at Club Menangle when the four-year-old stallion safely negotiated the tapes to gain his standing start […]
The connections of New Zealand-bred trotter Gus are hoping a return to his country of birth on the second Tuesday in November will be fruitful. Gus is presently on the fifth line of betting with TAB at $10 for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Cup day at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. He […]
Meet Harness Racing’s J Mac. James MacDonald is a household name for many Kiwis, particularly those in the racing game. But this November a new ‘J Mac’ will arrive on New Zealand shores in the form of Canada’s four-time defending Driver of the Year. He will represent Canada for the third time in the World […]
The harness racing version of the TAB Racing Club will officially get underway tonight (Friday) at Addington Raceway. After purchasing several high-quality yearlings at last year’s sales, Eun Sugno for the Dalgetys will be the first to don the dark blue and red TAB silks on race day. A big son of Captain Crunch out […]
New Zealand’s fightback against another Aussie harness racing invasion during New Zealand Cup Week is about to get a serious uplift with the return of glamour pacer Akuta (Bettor’s Delight). Not seen since running third in the Franklin Cup of 2023, a significant tendon issue for the now six-year-old keep him off the scene with […]
When it comes to precious standardbred cargo, maybe the most valuable in modern times is due to arrive in Canterbury today. The Bettor’s Delight weanling, a full sister to Leap To Fame, and half relation to Swayzee, is bound for New Zealand soils to continue what is developing into an incredible legacy. Lettucereason (the filly’s […]
The Australian harness racing assault is building. While the Inter Dominion Carnival has only been wrapped up for a few days, the next targets for many of Australia’s very best are being planned. And New Zealand Cup Week beckons. The now richest standardbred in Australasian harness racing history Leap To Fame is certainly the touted […]
Check out harness racing highlights and news with this week’s edition of the Box Seat. Matt Cross and Matt Markham, along with Greg O’Connor and Brittany Graham, take a deep dive into the form for the 2025 Inter Dominion Grand Finals for pacers and trotters. We are also joined by some special guests. From Trackside
With the NZB National Standardbred Weanling Sale on this Thursday 26th June, the first opportunity to obtain harness racing stock from no less than five freshman stallions is obtainable to buyers. Pebble Beach Three weanlings will be presented by exciting young stallion Pebble Beach on behalf of Alabar where the former Dan Patch Three-Year-Old Pacing […]
With less than two weeks until the annual NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale, it seemed the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of the more ‘shrewd’ purchases out of that sale ring. This year’s event will be run alongside the thoroughbred sale, which opens the opportunities to an even wider audience in 2025. Christopher Dance […]
The Kiwis’ Queensland Winter harness racing raid began positively at Albion Park on Friday afternoon when the Purdon pair of Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) and Rubira (Always B Miki) stepped out under trial conditions. Adam Sanderson was charged with looking after the pair after they landed close to a fortnight ago, before Brooke Wilkins arrived […]
Kiwi update on ID2025 With only six weeks until the first round of rapidly approaching Inter Dominion heats, here is the latest on the Kiwi contingent after the second rankings were released. A total of 24 trotters (two heats of 12) will contest the trotter’s series, with 36 pacers making the cut for the first […]
What is it with all the harness racing dead heats that seem to be happening in this country? The latest was at Cambridge on Tuesday when Power N Glory and Beta Prepare couldn’t be separated in the first of the night, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Mobile Pace. And that got me thinking .. does […]
Check out harness racing highlights and news with this week’s edition of the Box Seat. Matt Cross, Greg O’Connor, and Brittany Graham talk to Carter Dalgety, Paddy Lee and David White, and also preview the 2 Group 1 races at Alexandra Park on Friday night, along with the Group 2 Superstars Championship. From Trackside
