Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn and Kiwi-bred champion Shartin N have both been in record-breaking form in Massachusetts. At Plainridge Park, about a 40 minute drive out of Boston, Dunn paired up all-conquering trotter Manchego to win the Spirit of Massachusetts trot in 1:49.3. It was a new world record for aged trotting mares on a 1000 metre course. After a sizzling opening quarter of 25.2 Manchego was never seriously threatened, winning by two and a half lengths from arch rival Atlanta (Yannick Gingras). The Muscle Hill five-year-old has now won…
Month: July 2020
Digital licences to go on-line
Harness Racing New Zealand is now issuing digital licences, just in time for the new racing season. Digital licences can be viewed on mobile phones via your MyHRNZ login on the HRNZ Infohorse App. If you have the app on your phone your licence will always be available, even if there is no internet access. Your current licence can be viewed now and will update to the new licence for the 2020/21 season on August 1. HRNZ has also confirmed there will be no Diaries sent out to licenceholders for the…
Darren Keast’s first win from new barn
Three milestones were ticked off when favourite Calypso Rock won at Addington on Sunday (Avon City Ford Mobile Non-winners MR40 – 45 Pace, 2600m) . It was young Canterbury trainer Darren Keast’s first win since lockdown, his first since he took over his new stables at Weedons, and the first win in New Zealand for Keast’s partner and Calypso Rock’s driver, Ashleigh Stewart. Keast has moved into the barn that used to be Margo Nyhan and Peter Davis’ training base, and he has big plans for the eight hectare property…
Winterfell off 55 in comeback race
By Michael Guerin Inter Dominion champion Winterfell is going to have to produce something special to maintain his outstanding Alexandra Park record tomorrow night. Because the surprise winter addition to the northern trotting ranks faces a mammoth 55 metre handicap in his comeback race. Winterfell hasn’t raced since March 20 but has been sent north by trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen because he prefers right-handed racing. That was evident over the summer when he not only won the Inter Dominion Final but beat Oscar Bonavena in the National Trot,…
The King is back
By Adam Hamilton For a horse who won a Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile in a space of a few weeks, somehow King Of Swing remains underrated. What the former NZ and WA pacer did in just a couple of months with Craig Cross and Luke McCarthy was nothing short of amazing, but all the recent talks has been about Ride High, Lochinvar Art and Self Assured. But now King Of Swing is back … bigger and better. At least that’s the opinion of McCarthy, who will take the reins…
Nice surprise for Team Lithgow
Gotham Princess did it for the ladies at Lang Lang on Sunday when she claimed the Sylvester Doyle Puppy Championship for Sean and Mel Lithgow. An unexpected feat heading into the day, especially considering she was up against some talented young lads. “When it comes to coursing, the size of a greyhounds stride becomes very important and therefore dogs tend to be better coursing greyhounds than the girls,” Sean Lithgow said. “The girls can get around corners easier because of their frame on a circle track whereas the dogs are…
Lochinvar lashes them
By Adam Hamilton ON a weekend of greats wins, Lochinvar Art’s return was as good as any of them. Self Assured pumped us all up with his breathtaking first-up win at Addington when he really had no right to on Friday night. Just hours later, Perth’s pin-up boy Chicago Bull continued his remarkable comeback when he again crushed classy rival Handsandwheels and went close to breaking the track record in the middle of winter. Then it was Lochinvar Art’s turn last night at Shepparton. In a week where talk has…
$2.5 million for both free trials at all Victorian tracks and extra race meetings per week
Victoria’s racing program will be boosted from 23 to 26 meetings a week from now until July 2021, GRV CEO Alan Clayton announced today. “We will put on three extra race meetings a week funded from additional monies added to the existing prizemoney pool,” Mr Clayton said. “This means that there is no prizemoney reduction to the current racing program with the additional meetings funded by new money.” Mr Clayton said expanding the racing program would grow revenue and create jobs which would lead to increased prizemoney and returns to…
Extra race meetings and free trials
GRV CEO Alan Clayton & Greyhound Clubs Victoria Chairman Adrian Scott joined RSN’s Racing Central to discuss two significant announcements this morning. The number of weekly race meetings on the Victorian greyhound calendar is set to climb from 23 to 26, for the purpose of growing revenue and creating jobs, which will lead to increased prizemoney and returns to participants. This, in turn, will also help secure the future of our sport. The decision around free trials was a request from Victoria’s 13 race clubs, led by GCV, to help…
Notice of Biosecurity (Readiness and Response) Levy
Following the consultation last year with the equine industry by the New Zealand Equine Health Association (NZEHA), the Biosecurity (Readiness and Response) levy is progressing though the legal process and may well be through in September 2020. In line with giving everyone sufficient notice: The NZEHA wishes to notify that a Biosecurity (Readiness and Response) Levy has been set and will be placed on Horses and Horse Germplasm at a rate of $100 per imported or exported horse, $20 for each imported or exported frozen embryo, $10 for each imported…