– who have we been talking to? With the change of the horses birthday to January 1st it gives our sport the opportunity to reinvent the way we run our race programmes. Recently HRNZ invited several groups of participants in to listen to the proposed changes and give feedback on these. Here are the views of some of those that involved and some high level details of possible changes. If you have any views or ideas please email them to Catherine@hrnz.co.nz by July 24th. Change of Birthday Consultation Round 1 key…
Month: July 2021
Purdon to drive Amazing Dream, Copy That draws badly in Rising Sun
Mark Purdon will add to the already stunning star-power of the inaugural The Rising Sun by taking the reins on glamour Kiwi mare Amazing Dream. Purdon’s son, Nathan, recently took over training Amazing Dream, who will start from gate three under the preferential draw conditions of Saturday night’s new $250,000 feature (9.45pm NZT). “Dad’s taking a break from holiday to drive her, which is great,” Nathan confirmed. “He’ll also drive my other mare Spellbound in the mares’ race on the night.” It sounds like Kiwi young gun Krug will go…
Six-win Jimmy gives Sammy great start across the Tasman
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It has its anxious moments but Sammy Kilgour’s enjoying a bullish start to her new job as a part-time bloodstock agent. Her star export, Jimmy The Irishman, won his sixth race in a row on in the Great Ocean Road Real Estate Pace at Bendigo on Saturday night. “When he races I do get nervous,” says Kilgour, “But he has exceeded all expectations.” Jimmy The Irishman escaped a pocket and sprinted home strongly to gun down a field that included former Kiwi Tango…
Notice to Participants – Ehrlichia canis update
A domestic dog in Horsham has tested positive for ehrlichiosis – the first detection of this disease for an Australian-born dog in Victoria.
Daily Mail: Aussie’s secret form line
It’s no secret… G1 Silver Chief finalist Aussie Secret (21 from 44) is the star attraction racing in Victoria tonight when he lines up in a Free For All at Warragul. He’ll exit Box 1, from which he’s won five from eight, and it’s worth noting he won the recent Pink Diamond Champion Short Course series, defeating Ferdinand Boy, who went on to break Shepparton’s 385m track record in yesterday’s ‘Must Watch’ race of the day. Replay Will Aussie Secret get near Warragul’s 22.07sec track record? A great battle looms…
Forbury Park to go out in style
By Jonny Turner Forbury Park board member Lex Williams admits he doesn’t quite know his club will pack in the massive crowd expected at their track’s farewell meeting on Thursday. A huge turnout of harness racing fans from across New Zealand are set to turn out for the final chapter in the 110-year history of the Dunedin track. Williams has fielded phone calls from across the country in the leadup to Forbury Park’s swansong leading the club to expect as many racegoers as they have accommodated in recent history. “It…
Copy That stuns in Queensland
By Adam Hamilton It takes something special to shock Anthony Butt. Copy That did just that when he exploded from a seemingly hopeless position to blow away a strong field when he launched his Queensland raid with a stunning Wondais Mate Open Pace win. Just a week earlier, Butt left Redcliffe thinking Krug had a mortgage on The Rising Sun after driving him to a powerhouse Redcliffe Derby win. But he’s now sure Copy That is good enough to seriously test or even beat Krug in next Saturday night’s inaugural…
May’s incredible comeback continues
By Jonny Turner Ricky May added another chapter to harness racing’s greatest comeback story when driving his 3000th New Zealand winner at Addington on Sunday. The star driver’s milestone victory appropriately came at the track where his brilliance in the sulky has shone brightest, the scene of his incredible seven New Zealand Cup wins. Known as arguably the greatest driver of swoopers this country has seen, May’s hundreds of successes are full of perfectly judged front running drives. And the 63-year-old produced another, behind Sheeza Artist to score a 3000th…
Ricky May drives 3000th winner
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It was a goal Ricky May was determined to achieve – and now he’s done it. When favourite Sheeza Artist held on to win the third at Addington on Sunday one of the sport’s all-time greats registered his 3000th winning drive in New Zealand. It was a confident front-driving drive that saw the 63-year-old become just the third driver in this country to bring up the milestone, following on from “good mates” Tony Herlihy and Maurice McKendry. “Maurice was from Methven as well..…
Macfarlane reaches special milestone
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Todd Macfarlane has achieved a number of highlights in Dave McGowan’s silks, and now he can add his 500th driving win to the list. The South Auckland reinsman achieved the milestone behind Heston Hall in the Book Now for Mid-Winter Christmas At Alex Park Trot (2700m) for McGowan and his wife and training partner Clare McGowan at Alexandra Park on Friday night, and adding more sentiment to the win was the fact the gelding is part-owned by his parents. “It was good to get…