By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The “House” party looks set to continue at Manawatu today. The red juggernaut will be represented by 11 runners at Palmerston North this evening with all of them backing up from Tuesday’s meeting. Trainer Michael House had five winners then to take him to 903 career victories while son Wilson drove three of them on his 21st birthday – not that there was any huge celebration to mark the big event. “It was just a few drinks with dinner, nothing out of the…
Day: 1 May 2025
Northern Final to be held at Cambridge on May 15
The Northern Regional Pacers Final has been re-scheduled to Cambridge on Thursday, May 15. Originally the race was going to be held at Alexandra Park on ANZAC day (last Friday) but didn’t go ahead because of insufficient entries. The Final will be programmed similarly to the Auckland edition but with a $27,500 stake and a lower rating limit of R45 to try to attract more intermediate grade pacers. The race will still have a maximum back mark of 30 metres and be run over 2700m. Horses will be eligible to…
Emotions to flow on Rowe Cup night
By Michael Guerin Canterbury trainer-driver Gavin Smith says it will be a painful privilege to honour his close friend Greg Sugars in Friday night’s Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park. Like many in the industry, Smith was left stunned by the shock news on Saturday that 40-year-old Sugars had passed away in his sleep. Smith was close to Sugars, having spent plenty of time together over the years, even more so in the last year as Sugars campaigned Just Believe and Better Eclipse in New Zealand. Sugars and his wife…
News Briefs – April 30
Milestones for Michael and Wilson House at Manawatu, the first Warriors – harness racing joint promotion, and a new driver for Keayang Zahara all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Dual milestones for Michael and Wilson House The country’s leading junior driver Wilson House celebrated his 21st in a most unusual way yesterday – he drove three winners at Manawatu. He started his run by winning the first with Matai Harry, then won race 5 with Jaccka Baylis before bookending the programme with hot favourite Nickel And Dime in…
Vale Don McKenzie
Don McKenzie is being remembered as “an absolute gentleman” who bred plenty of winners. Since the 1970s McKenzie bred and/or raced more than 50 horses either on his own account or in partnership. Among his best known horses were $1m earner The Vulcan, Genius and more recently Invictus. He died at his North Canterbury home over the weekend after a battle with cancer. “He was just the most marvellous person,” says Jenny Butt, who bred 32 horses with McKenzie over the past 40 or so years. “We said our goodbyes…