By Michael GuerinOne of the key people behind saving Manawatu harness racing says it is now up to the region to prove harness racing belongs there. The Manawatu Harness Racing Club has won back 10 dates for next season after initially being passed over in the first draft calendar. Some of those meetings will be mini-meetings run in conjunction with the local greyhound club at Palmerston North while harness racing in the Central Districts will also have two four-race programmes run on galloping days at Otaki and Tauherenikau. MHRC president…
Month: July 2020
CEO’s Monthly Update: July
As the 2019-20 financial year ends, I would like to take this opportunity to update you all on how our sport has been travelling over the past 12 months.
Cherished memories of Karen
NCA of Victoria joint secretary Melanie Lithgow will “forever cherish memories” of winning the Karen Leek Stakes with Dream Wizard at yesterday’s Longwood coursing meeting. “It was a huge honour – knowing what Karen had achieved in the industry,” Melanie said. “And it felt great bringing the trophy back to Devon Meadows, an area she loved. Melanie and husband Sean (also joint secretary of NCA of Vic) ‘lived around the corner’ from Karen’s pristine greyhound rearing complex. “We walked our greyhounds past her property every morning and she would always…
Grenfell quinella as Yozo springs an upset
Young trainer Correy Grenfell landed his first ever feature race quinella in the 2020 Triple M Bendigo Cup when Yozo Bale sprung somewhat of an upset in defeating a red hot line up to claim the $50,000 winners purse.
Dexter Dunn nosed out as trotting rivalry intensifies
The greatest trotting rivalry in North America is now all square with the Dexter Dunn-driven Manchego getting edged out by arch rival Atlanta. The pair have met twice since racing resumed, with the latest installment of the two trotting mares being at Meadowlands in New Jersey at the weekend. Dunn and Manchego speared to the lead from the mobile only for Atlanta to get the one-one and then gain the ascendancy in the shadows of the post in what was a stirring finish. With 21 wins from 41 starts Atlanta is…
Change of dates for Cambridge
A harness double-header’s been confirmed for Thursday, July 23. The Cambridge meeting initially set down for Wednesday July 22 has been moved to the following day because RITA (Racing Industry Transition Agency) wanted to avoid a clash with a proposed gallops meeting at Avondale. That means Invercargill will race during the day on the Thursday followed by Cambridge in the evening.
Vics ‘pinch’ spots in Sydney Group 1s
Victorian trainer Matt Clark will be delighted star litter brothers Catch The Thief (pictured) and Playlist have made it through to next Saturday’s G1 Vic Peters Final (520m) after both ran third in their respective heats tonight. Three heats of the series were conducted at Wentworth Park, with the first two placegetters and two fastest thirds qualifying for the $75,000 to-the-winner final. The Gippsland duo were the only Vics to make the final, with Kelvyn Greenough’s recent Cranbourne Winter Cup winner Houdini Boy qualifying as a reserve after storming home…
Morrison out to extend lead
By Jonny Turner John Morrison will take his junior driver’s premiership quest in to his own hands at Addington on Sunday. Morrison has the chance to extend his one win lead in the national competition with six drives, including two from his own stable. The trainer-driver will attempt a repeat of Standout’s impressive win in his first start from his West Melton barn. A slow beginning was not enough to stop the 4yr-old from powering home to win over 2000m, at Addington last month. Morrison is hopeful Standout can measure…
Selections | Addington,5 July
Jason Teaz, Matt Cross & our Mystery Tipster provide us with their selections ahead of the meeting at Addington today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Mosman draw favours Sharp sisters
Jason and Jessica Sharp have had to travel a long way from home to get some overdue luck with boxes for talented sisters Junk Food Junkie and Devel Sixteen. The Sharps are heading from Avalon to Sydney to contest tonight’s heats of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Opal with the littermates by the great Fernando Bale, which won the Peter Mosman in 2015 before it became a female-only feature. While draws haven’t been kind to Junk Food Junkie and Devel Sixteen in their home state recently, the dreaded visitor’s…