Letter to the industry from Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Woodham Just days into the new season there seems to be some confusion as to what the “new” season is. The new TRANSITIONAL season started on August 1 2021 and will go through to December 31 2021. There will not be a separate drivers’ or trainers’ premiership for this period. All wins though will be included in official Harness Racing New Zealand statistics, as per usual. The 2020-21 premierships have already been decided, after the season finished on…
Month: August 2021
Home targets for Justacanta
Trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy were eyeing an Australian campaign with Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto) this spring, however, a change in circumstances have altered those plans. “We were going to go over to Australia with him but he had a slight foot problem so he has ended up staying here and we will probably carry on with him here at home,” Emma Clotworthy said. The Group Three performer will now be prepared for a similar campaign to last season, which will likely culminate in a tilt at the Gr.1 Railway…
Matheson makes strong start to season
By Jonny Turner After putting a tumultuous season behind him trainer Shane Matheson started the new term off in grand style with the win of Harry H at Ascot Park on Thursday. Matheson and partner Lisa Barrie produced excellent results on the track last season with 10 wins, one shy of Matheson’s personal best. But away from the track the past six months have been challenging for the couple after they were involved in a serious road accident. Barrie emerged with injuries as did Matheson who had, among other issues,…
Butcher off to a flyer
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Benjamin Butcher is off to a flyer this season, recording a treble of wins at Alexandra Park on Thursday night and bringing up his 200th driving victory in the process. The South Auckland reinsman kicked the night off in style, winning the first race on the card, the Join The Breeders Mobile Trot (1609m), with Minnie Bow Tique. “She is an honest wee horse and she has been running some really good races,” Butcher said. “Over that mile tonight and being able to get…
Team Bagrie’s Addington quartet on song
By Jonny Turner Team Bagrie is poised to make a successful strong to the season at Addington on Friday night. Between them father and son trainers Peter and Tom Bagrie line up four horses on a nine-race card. Tom starts two horses in race 4 in maiden fillies in Daisy Duke and Maid Of Money. Daisy Duke comes into the 1980m event after running third in her first two starts at the races. In the latest of those, the four-year-old hit the line strongly after racing deep on the pegs.…
COVID-19 UPDATE: Greyhound racing to maintain current status
Victoria will enter a 7-day lockdown from 8pm tonight, however greyhound racing will continue across the state in its current status including: – Essential persons only allowed on course at ALL Victorian greyhound race meetings and trial sessions– Health screening / pre-entry temperature testing will continue– QR code sign in remains mandatory– Social distancing of 1.5 metres– The wearing of face masks is mandatory at all times – inside and outside The Premier of Victoria’s statement in respect to the change in COVID restrictions can be located HERE GRV extends…
Selections | Addington August 6
Trottech’s selections for Addington today (Friday) – August 6. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! RaceTime TrottechForm Analyst Race 15.53pm 7 Shiffty10 Spot The Gamble9 Build A Bridge1 Random Spur Race 26.19pm 8 Rollyourown2 Talent Agent 6 Watching Our Coin3 White Star Orlando Race 36.49pm 8 Kahress10 Kowhai Sundown11 Yuri1 Salvo Race 47.16pm 6 Younggiftedandblack10 Daisy Duke11 Lizzie Richter 2 Philadelphia Filly Race 57.41pm 3 Zealous Spur8 Royal Del 1 Sods Law9 Faith No More Race 68.06pm 7 Sugar Me6 Somekindawonderful5 Champagneandwine4 Hilarious Prince Race 78.31pm 8 Five Star General10 Vesnina6 Classie…
Krug back, but not for long
By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s best three-year-old pacer Krug returns home today but he may not be there for long. The three-time Derby winner returns to trainer Cran Dalgety’s stables outside Christchurch after a tough campaign in Queensland to end an enormously successful three-year-old season in which he won the Woodlands Northern and NZ Derbys at home and was at times rated the next big thing in the code. But oddly while Krug’s three-year-old season should be over he remains that age until January 1 as Harness Racing New Zealand…
Thompson ‘Equal’ to National task
A National Championship is one of the very few G1 features to have eluded Jason Thompson over the course of his stellar training career and the ongoing impact of COVID will ensure that anomaly won’t change in 2021. The National Sprint and Distance Championships were set to be hosted at The Meadows later this month but for the second year running Greyhound Clubs Australia, in conjunction with the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and GRV, has cancelled the National Grand Finals. But the Victorian Sprint series will proceed at The Meadows…
St Leger showdown a ‘Classic’
Saturday night’s $35,500 Group 3 Warragul St Leger final (460m) shapes as a ‘must watch’ sequel to the recent G1 Maturity Classic, with superstar duo Qwara Bale and Aston Fastnet reprising their starring roles. Add boom speedster Koblenz (Box 2) into the mix and the race for the $25,000 winner’s purse shapes as one of the most memorable in the age-restricted feature’s history. Andrea Dailly’s Qwara Bale (Box 7) celebrated her second G1 victory in the Maturity, having previously won the Sapphire Crown as well as the G2 Warrnambool Cup.…