All Stars chasing hard
Team Telfer’s lead at the top of the trainers’ premiership has been cut to five. The brother-sister combo of Steve and Amanda Telfer have 85 wins for the year while closest rivals, the All Stars partnership of Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen are now at 80 after having eight wins in November including Group 1 doubles on Cup and Show Day. The Telfers in comparison have had a quieter November with four wins so far.
Date and venue for awards
A date and venue have been confirmed for the 2022 Harness Racing Awards. They will be held at Addington Raceway on Saturday, March 4 2023. Tickets will be on sale in the New Year with capacity for 300 people.
Dunn brings up the ton
When John Dunn won with Make My Sundon at Addington on Monday it was his 100th winner for the year. The milestone came from his 725th drive in 2022. He is currently second in the drivers’ premiership with four-time champion Blair Orange streets ahead on 160. Tim Williams is third on 87.
Dexter just keeps winning
John’s brother and ten-time Kiwi driving champion Dexter Dunn is poised to go past $15m in stakes earnings for the year. The American-based Dunn currently has 279 wins in 2022, with combined earnings of $US14,400,619. That makes him easily the highest earning driver in North America with Tim Tetrick (523 wins) next at $13,689,117. The driver with the most individual wins is Aaron Merriman with 793 ($8,177,315).
Unexplained death of trotting stallion
Trotting stallion Bar Hopping has died unexpectedly in the States, aged nine. The sire of Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini among others, Bar Hopping won 10 of 28 career starts, earning $1.29m. So far there’s been no explanation for his sudden death, with hopes an autopsy will provide some answers. He had been based at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania since retiring from racing in 2016.
Bolt flies Kiwi flag
A total of 71 horses have been confirmed for the Inter Dominion series that kicks off at Ballarat this Saturday night, with 36 pacers and 35 trotters. Bolt For Brilliance is the sole New Zealand competitor in the series. There will be three rounds of heats with 12 horses securing a place in the two Grand Finals at Melton on December 10.
