Contributor
Enchanted Star’s victory at Methven was a celebration for harness racing trainer-driver Olivia Thornley on a number of levels. “It’s really special, especially training, owning, breeding and driving it, and being involved with the family,” she says. The win in the Denario Breeding Trot was Thornley’s first training success in what was her 12th starter […]
Greendale trainer Rob Davis knows it won’t be easy for Buckskin ($12.00FF) as he vies for a second Akaroa Cup victory, at Methven on Sunday. The 10-year-old American Ideal gelding is fourth up this campaign, and comes into Race 10, the Cavalier Trotting Products Akaroa Pace (4.13pm) over 3000m off the back of a strong […]
A family dinner paved the way for an emphatic win for Leeston harness racing trainer Aaron Swain at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru yesterday, when Hungry Bronnie claimed her maiden win in fine fashion. The transfer of the four-year-old Stay Hungry mare to Swain’s barn came about when Swain was at a family dinner with […]
Tact Teva headlines Steve and Amanda Telfer’s team heading to Timaru on Sunday. Stonewall Stud line up three runners at the back end of the programme, with all three looking like strong winning chances. Co-trainer Amanda Telfer suggests their best chance will be Tact Teva ($2.40FF) in the day’s feature, Race 7, the Tyre General […]
Star filly Miss Leopatra (Bettors Delight) served notice of better things to come with a comprehensive win in the Group 3 $50,000 Daintys Daughter three year old fillies classic at Gloucester Park on Friday evening. Expected to lead from barrier 5, Miss Leopatra’s driver Jocelyn Young had little option when War Cry kicked up along […]
Woodend Beach trainer Bob Butt takes four live chances to the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club’s meeting at Geraldine on Sunday. Stating at 11.55am, 11 races will be held at the Orari track after the meeting was transferred there as repairs continue at Motukarara. In Race 1, The Famous Grouse Trot over 1950m (11.55am), Aldebaran Lobell […]
Coes Ford harness racing trainer Ross Cameron expects good things from his team of four engaged at the first grass track meeting of this side of the season to be held at Methven on Sunday. Race 3, the Dubliner Mobile Pace over 2300 (12.47pm), Cameron drives the first of his chances Harry’s Gold. The three-year-old […]
Sans Repos’ triumph at Ashburton on Sunday was another harness racing victory for good friends Danni Alfeld and Olivia Thornley. The six-year-old Art Major gelding made it two-in-a-row when impressively putting away a handy field in The Wylie Family Pace over 2400m. “He’s going good enough and we are pretty happy with him,” said Alfeld, […]
Northern junior driver Crystal Hackett makes the trip to Ashburton today for three harness racing drives looking to add to her already winning weekend after finding success with Son Of The Cleaner at Alexandra Park on Friday night. “It looked like a nice race for him, and I thought he’d be hard to beat, and […]
Woodend Beach harness racing trainer Matt Purvis takes a team of seven to the Rangiora winter meeting today. Although there are no standouts from the barn, Purvis is relatively happy with his team, and expects them all to perform satisfactorily, meaning punters will need to give serious consideration to the horses donning green jackets. Kicking […]
The 2026 McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Drivers Champion Wilson House now has his sights set on the Australasian Young Drivers Championship to be held in New Zealand this November. “That’s my next target,” said House. The series, sponsored by 1 Equine, begins on November 4 at Cambridge Raceway, concluding on Cup Day at […]
The McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Driver Championships will conclude at Ashburton Raceway today with four heats. Current leader Wilson House has a two-point advantage, on 34 points, with Mia Holbrough on 32 points, and Harrison Orange on 30 points. Defending champion Carter Dalgety sits fourth on 29 points, while Seth Hill and Emily […]
James Dunn joined some elite company with his first win at Addington on Sunday. The 30-year-old was victorious with the Mitchell Scheuber-trained Justification in the Avon City Ford Mobile Pace. In doing so he joined the likes of Sam Ottley (Oamaru, 2008), Carter Dalgety (Oamaru, 2021) and Harrison Orange (Alexandra Park, 2024) to win his […]
Canterbury horseman James Dunn will have his first race-day drive at Addington this afternoon. Dunn is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having co-trained forty-seven winners with his father Geoff Dunn, between 2021 and 2024, before heading to Australia. “My wife and I went over to Australia for a working holiday for a year,” explained […]
As debuts go, yesterday’s performance by Franco Light at Addington mapped out perfectly for Weedons trainer Alan Edge. “He went nice. He has sheer ability,” says Edge. Driven by John Dunn in the Betavet Betabreathe For Airway Support Trot, Franco Light showed impeccable manners from his unruly draw, leading then trailing within the first 800 […]
After upsetting at big odds on Sunday, Bullet has earned a start in Friday’s North of the Waitaki Winter Rewards meeting at Addington. In the New Zealand Bloodstock Mobile Trot Bullet, trained and driven by John Versteeg, broke his maiden, and many punters’ hearts, downing the $1.55 favourite Lexicon in the process. BULLET REPLAY […]
Ashburton trainers David and Stacey White have a handy team of young horses bubbling away in their barn. Today they take two live chances to Addington’s short and sharp Sunday meeting. In Race 1, the New Zealand Bloodstock Mobile Trot (1.36pm) over 1980m, debutant Condor ($3.90FF) will take his place, driven by co-trainer David White. […]
Sarah O’Reilly has two drives at Addington’s meeting today with both runners paying under $2.00. Firstly today, in Race 5, the Winky Cross Dulcet Tones Pace (5.04pm) over 2000m, O’Reilly links up with Bettabe Lou ($1.60FF), trained by her father Gerard. The three-year-old Sweet Lou filly has had two starts so far in her career, […]
Rakaia harness racing trainer Warren Stapleton did what he does best on Sunday at Addington, winning with a couple of horses off the scrap heap. Stapleton is renowned for reviving horses on the brink of career ending circumstances. “It was good, we get it right sometimes!” said Stapleton. “They’ve been going nice races.” In […]
Canterbury junior driver Thomas Borcoskie scored a special harness racing win yesterday when combining with Tessamae (Peak) in the Seahorse Supplements (Junior Drivers) Trot at Addington. It was his fourth career win but his first in the family colours, with Tessamae trained by uncle Brent Borcoskie, as well as the ownership being with his grandmother, […]
Steve and Amanda Telfer take a small but strong team to Addington for today’s final June meeting. In Race 3, the Touchdown Car Rentals Pace over 2600m (1.25pm), Rock N Roll Dude ($3.10FF) returns to the races after a forced layoff. The three-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding has not raced since debuting in August […]
The Canterbury Silk Road Fillies and Mares Series gets underway today, with the first of three heats, all worth $12,500, before a $25,000 final on July 10. All heats, plus the final, will be run over 1980m at Addington. Today’s heat, Race 6, the Ricoh Canterbury Silk Road Fillies and Mares (Heat 1) Mob Pace […]
Leeston trainer Paul Nairn heads to Addington today armed with a trio of chances, including two new trotters having their maiden starts. Marikit and Radiant, both take their spots in Race 2, the Avon City Ford Trot (1.56pm) over 2600m. “I’m not really sure how good they are just yet,” cautioned Nairn. “They both qualified […]
Russley trainer Laura McKay has had her biggest training win to date, with Birdy’s harness racing victory in Sunday’s $25,000 Hydroflow Silk Road Fillies and Mares Final at Addington. “I’m really, really stoked. A very satisfying win. Nice to win a good stake race,” said McKay. “It’s been a long road with her. Even though […]
