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Duke of Bourbon (Face Time Bourbon) cost $240,000 and although he had one win under his belt has cost punters a bit of money to prior to winning tonight’s Addington feature. But on a big track, racing left handed for the first time and having to endure a false start, the colt gave some back […]
Merlin may prove the exception to one of harness racing’s golden punting rules in the IRT Spring Cup at Alexandra Park tonight. Because while betting on back markers who are fresh up in open class races is usually a pretty efficient way to get rid of any surplus money you have lying around, Merlin might […]
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 […]
After three months away one of New Zealand’s best harness racing drivers and unsuccessful basketball players returns at Alexandra Park tonight. And Zachary Butcher says while he wondered what it would be like getting back in the sulky after his injury-enforced layoff it only took him minutes to feel right back at home. “It is […]
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 […]
Harness racing’s gain will be social basketball’s loss when superstar driver Zachary Butcher makes it back to the racetrack in September. The 35-year-old has been a notable absentee from the fields at Alexandra Park and Cambridge in the last five weeks, having not driven since having an operation to replace the ACL in his left […]
In the hands of his trainer Tony Herlihy, the talented two year old Off Shore got his first win on the board at Cambridge tonight when he led and won with plenty in hand, the $25,000 Dinny Johnstone Two Year Old Mobile Pace. “He’s still on a learning curve and the guys have been patient […]
Zachary Butcher is planning on doing plenty of homework ahead of being the lone Kiwi in the Ultimate Drivers Championship at Albion Park in Brisbane this weekend. Butcher will face nine stellar rivals from Australia and Canada in the 20-race series across Friday and Saturday nights. He follows brother-in-law Carter Dalgety, who was the only […]
Led by Scott Whitton, the Tumby Park Syndicate are back for another shot at harness racing glory in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship, following a midfield finish in the inaugural series. In 2026, it will be Zachary Butcher thrust into the hot-seat, the 12-time Group 1 winner answering an SOS to take the reins for […]
Hillbilly Blues (What The Hill) rise to stardom continued with a narrow win over his stablemate Belle Neige in the $40,000 G3 Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes at Cambridge tonight. Driver Tony Herihy took the five year old to the top early, before handing up to Oscar Bonavena. Halfway down the straight Belle Neige who had […]
Leading New Zealand harness racing driver Zachary Butcher says the hard edge the Australians are bringing to Cup week at Addington could actually help him today. Today’s Show Day twilight meeting features six black type races including the superstars of pacing and trotting backing up from the New Zealand Cup and Dominion on Tuesday into […]
Merlin (Art Major) returned to his winning ways in the 100th running of the Kaikoura Cup today. The five year old entire hadn’t had a win since Show Day last year when he won the NZ FFA. Not that it worried his trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan who were building with the long game […]
The Wyndham HRC will make a decision on Monday as to whether they’ll race on their home course or elsewhere on Sunday 16th November. Their main grandstand was damaged in the recent high winds in the province, and the Club is expected to announce their decision on Tuesday. Trees next to the float entrance were […]
Zachary Butcher is hopeful both of his stable sweethearts who were able to complete a harness racing double at Alexandra Park on Friday night can make it to Addington this spring. Hopeful, but not certain. Butcher only trains a handful of horses but two of them were able to win in similar circumstances on Friday […]
Zachary Butcher says there is a simple reason he is taking Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) to Alexandra Park tonight : he knows what is coming next. Butcher is the north’s leading harness racing reinsman these days but also trains a few horses headlined by the fast five-year-old mare who has won half of her 18 […]
Zachary Butcher is worried about a horse starting 10m behind him getting in front of him and staying there in the pacing highlight at Alexandra Park tonight. Butcher is not only a superstar harness racing driver but is developing into a respected trainer, with the star of his very small team being Mantra Blue (Sweet […]
Zachary Butcher thinks Meant To Be (Father Patrick) could be the trotter he’s been waiting for. “You’d have to say he’s the best trotter I’ve driven. He’s a horse that’s going to take you places in that gait. I’ve always dreamed of driving a good one like that and they’re hard to find. He could […]
Trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have maintained there’s not a lot between their two three year old trotters Meant To Be (Father Patrick) and Higher Power (Father Patrick) and the winning margin of a nose in tonight’s $100,000 Group One Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby confirmed their opinion. It was Meant To Be in […]
Star driver Zachary Butcher loves nothing more than beating his father David and has done it again by setting a new North Island stakes record. But even some outstanding drives to end the season may not be enough to see him join one of the most exclusive clubs in harness racing. Butcher heads to Alexandra […]
The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan trained Duchess Megxit (Sweet Lou) joined harness racing royalty when she easily won the Group One $225,000 Tennant Engineering New Zealand Oaks at Addington tonight. Although a lot of punters weren’t sure about her draw in the fillies feature but driver Zachary Butcher wasn’t fazed. “When the draws came […]
The harness racing progeny of Father Patrick dominated their season finales tonight at Addington Raceway when Meant To Be and Habibti Pat won their respective ‘Aces’ races. In the Group One $100,000 IRT Ace Of Clubs, driver Zachary Butcher played the patient game with Meant To Be, letting him find his feet and avoiding the […]
Aided by a heady drive by Zachary Butcher, Better Knuckle Up (Bettor’s Delight) out-fought nine harness racing rivals to win the inaugural $500,000 Listed – Hill, Lee and Scott ‘The Velocity’ Three Year Old Pacers Slot Race at Addington today. Clevedon trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan’s ability to train horses to the minute when […]
Star harness racing pacer Merlin (Art Major) threw out the challenge to Australian champ Leap To Fame by impressively winning todays $60,000 Group Two NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes. “We stepped well but we actually had to burn a bit. You don’t want to chase them off their feet too much. There was an opportunity […]
Star harness racing driver Zachary Butcher’s spring is about to get a lot more serious but not all of that action is going to be with him in the sulky. Butcher is a week away from resuming his race night association with Merlin, who returns in the Spring Cup next Friday as he starts a […]
