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Habibti Pat’s been the star performer in this week’s Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup day rankings. The Group 1-winning Father Patrick mare was a convincing winner of last Friday’s Tactical Approach D G Jones Banks Peninsula Cup at Addington, with the win sealing her a place in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on […]
New Zealand’s representative Michael House has finished 10th at the world amateur driving championships in Malta. Eight heats were held overnight with Malta’s Redent Magro producing a home country victory. He had two wins on the way to accumulating 73 points, one ahead of Germany’s Emma Stolle. Malta has now gone back to back at […]
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has set out a long-term vision for its 24-hectare Addington Raceway site that would secure the future of racing while opening parts of the property to housing, commercial and hospitality development, community facilities and new public spaces. Racing will remain at Addington. The Club’s aim is to make better […]
Veronica Bennellick’s first season as a trainer reached a memorable harness racing milestone at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night, with Cee Whatabet delivering her first training win. The four-year-old Betting Line gelding, driven by his co-owner and Bennellick’s partner Michael Hay, led throughout to take out the Hoarding Signs Available at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. […]
After his second in the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup at Addington last Friday, Borrisokane is the biggest mover in this week’s New Zealand Trotting Cup and Renwick Farms Dominion Trot rankings. The Sportswriter gelding has improved nine places, from 30th last week to now being 21st. The Regan Todd-trained six-year-old has been in […]
HRNZ’s ownership initiative Next Gen will continue until 2027, but not beyond that. The scheme was launched in December 2024 to attract new owners, support emerging trainers and showcase young stallions. Among its features were $5000 second start bonuses and a $50,000 bonus for the first eligible horses home in the three Harness Million 2YO […]
The rankings for the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot have had a minor re-jig following last Friday night’s harness racing action at Addington Raceway. The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus) sealed his spot in the Cup on Tuesday, November 10 with his win in the first of the automatic qualifiers, the Allied […]
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) have signed an agreement to work alongside TAB NZ to progress a programme of work to consider options for a more sustainable, efficient and future-focused New Zealand racing industry. Under the agreement, an Establishment Board, led by an independent Chair, supported by an independent […]
The first harness racing rankings are out for the New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 10. Nominations for both Group 1 features closed on Monday, with 33 in the Cup and 44 for the Dominion. Guaranteed the top two positions in the […]
While David and Stacey White are incredibly grateful for the “life-changing” ride they have had with Bet N Win, there is still an underlying sense of what might have been. The dual Group 1 harness racing winner has been retired after it was determined his chances of returning to an elite level of racing were […]
After fund-raising more than $185,000 for the cause, Harness Racing New Zealand has made the difficult decision to end its association with Blue September. HRNZ has held the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation campaign annually for the past five years During September money was raised every time an ambassador won a race, thanks to $100 […]
News briefs from Harness Racing New Zealand Vale Mick Prendergast Mick Prendergast, the former oldest New Zealand reinsman to drive a winner at 81, has died, aged 92. Prendergast equalled the record set by John Burgess with Silverdale Pride in 2008 when he drove his own horse, the trotter Holdon Toyaspurs to win twice at […]
Project Stamina sets a clear path for the future of New Zealand racing infrastructure New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and TAB NZ have today, Tuesday 28 July, released Project Stamina, a long-term roadmap to create a modern, sustainable racing and training venue network that will support the future of New […]
Two drivers will make their debuts at this year’s McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Drivers Championships. The championship’s two rounds will be held at Alexandra Park on Friday, August 7 and then at Ashburton two days later. Twelve of the country’s best young talent will duel it out, with Carter Dalgety returning as defending […]
Northern horseman John Kriechbaumer has today claimed his second NZ Amateur Drivers Championship – but only just. It was tied up at 17 points each between Kriechbaumer and defending champion Michael House after the final two heats at Addington this afternoon, with Kriechbaumer winning the title on a countback. He had one win, two seconds […]
The Kiwis were smiling after the barrier draws for the two Group 1 features at Brisbane’s Albion Park on Saturday night. Regan Todd snared gate six with his brilliant four-year-old pacer Marketplace in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun, while Tom Bagrie’s first Aussie raider, four-year-old trotting mare Dash Dosh, will start from barrier four […]
The 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship (AYDC) is to return to New Zealand for the first time in seven years. The AYDC will see the next generation of harness racing talent from both sides of the Tasman go head-to-head across 10 heats at four venues, culminating with the big finale on New Zealand Trotting Cup […]
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) welcomes comments by Racing Minister Winston Peters encouraging the industry to work together to secure the long-term future of racing in New Zealand. HRNZ is continuing to work collaboratively with NZTR to put in place a rigorous and robust approach considering the proposals for racing sector reform that were presented […]
A new wagering record was set at Addington and Cambridge last Friday night. Latest data shows the combined FNL (Friday Night Lights) turnover of $1.904m was harness racing’s highest winter Friday night total since records began in 2015-16. Last year’s highest corresponding figures were around $1.7m. Broken down, Addington’s turnover was $1.04m, up more than […]
Following the release of the 2026/27 TAB NZ Racing Calendar, Harness Racing New Zealand is outlining a number of changes to the national harness racing calendar designed to strengthen race quality, improve field sizes and support the long-term sustainability of the sport. The Future Starts Now remains the long-term strategy for harness racing in New […]
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) with the support of TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ) would like to provide an update on the timing of the next phase of Project Stamina. As the industry is aware, there are currently a number of wider strategic discussions underway relating to the long-term […]
In a nod to some of the strong initiatives Harness Racing New Zealand has introduced during the past eighteen months under the leadership of Brad Steele, it’s been suggested that American Harness Racing look at introducing their own version of the New Zealand Next Gen concept. READ MORE HERE
New Zealand Harness Racing CEO Brad Steele announced yesterday that he is leaving his role and returning to Australia. “It’s been brewing for a little while. I had a senior leadership meeting with Entain last Friday in Cambridge and I knew it was going to be the last time,” Steele said. The decision to resign […]
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) Chief Executive Brad Steele will step down later this month, bringing to a close a two-year tenure widely credited with driving reform, innovation, and a clear focus on sustainability and growth. His leadership has modernised the sport, strengthened commercial alignment, and helped restore confidence across participants, stakeholders, and government. HRNZ […]
