Author: NZHarnessNews

End of era at Team Hope

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  The highly successful team of GP and Mrs N M Hope is officially disbanding. From next Tuesday (April 1), Greg will remain the “frontman” but wife Nina, the country’s most successful female trainer, will be stepping away. In a changing of the guard Ben Hope’s got himself a promotion and will go into partnership with his father. “Mum will be off the papers but she’s been a huge part of what we do and will continue to be,” says Ben, “we couldn’t do…

Stars step out in Flying Miles at Cambridge

NZHarnessNews

The two Waikato Flying Miles will highlight tonight’s Cambridge-Addington Friday Night Lights double-header. Merlin and co will battle it out in the Garrards Pacers Flying Mile (8.02pm) a week out from the $1m The Race by betcha as will rising star Bet N Win in the Trotters Mile (8.38pm) before next Friday’s $600,000 TAB Trot.  Meanwhile the country’s top driver Blair Orange looks set to make his presence felt at Addington. Merlin “ready to win” at Cambridge tonight  By Michael Guerin Merlin is ready to put his season back on…

NZ to host World Drivers Championship

NZHarnessNews

For the first time New Zealand will be the sole host of the World Drivers’ Championship later this year. Representing 10 different countries, the championships will be held at four venues – Kaikoura, Cambridge, Winton and Addington from November 2-11. “It’s an exceptional opportunity to showcase our sport and to show New Zealand off to the world,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Brad Steele. To see the Media Release click here 

Take After Me makes history at Ashburton

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Take After Me showed he can still be more than competitive in his history-making 400th start at Ashburton yesterday. The 14-year-old, affectionately known as ‘Rocky’, became the first ever standardbred to reach the mark and he did it in style with a gutsy third placing in the Matt Smith Construction Trot, just over a length away from the winner. In the words of commentator Andy McCook he “ran an absolute beauty”. For Take After Me’s connections it was a proud moment. “That was…

BGP gearing up for “massive” Night of Champions at Cambridge

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Some extra spice has been added to the Boys Get Paid (BGP)’s assault on Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday, April 4. For the second year BGP will be running their own Punters’ Club at Cambridge on the night but for the first time they will have some real skin in the game, with their own runner in the night’s pinnacle race. Big spending Australian Josh Davine and BGP secured the 10th and last slot for the $1m The Race by betcha and…

Not As Promised’s big step towards $600,000 TAB Trot

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer isn’t setting the bar too high for his emerging  trotter Not As Promised at Cambridge on Friday night. The five-year-old steps into the big league for the first time when he faces arguably NZ’s two best trotters, Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena, in a small five-horse field in the $60,000 Waikato Trotters’ Flying Mile. “It a small field, but a strong field,” Dwyer said. “It’ll give us a clear indication where he sits with some of the best. “We’ve been really happy…

News Briefs – March 26

NZHarnessNews

Yet another milestone for our top driver, the barrier reveals for Cambridge’s big night and two good trial performances all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Orange inches towards 3000 Blair Orange is getting ever closer to becoming just the fourth driver to win 3000 races in this country. He passed 2900 winners when Almighty Clever won for trainer Matt Purvis at Addington last Wednesday. He now has 2906 winners in total. Just three drivers are ahead of him – Tony Herlihy (3700), Maurice McKendry (3417) and Ricky May (3159).…

Quirky pacer makes return at Ashburton today

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A last start sixth behind Marketplace in a Group 1 on IRT New Zealand Cup day reads like good form for Sacetas heading into Ashburton today. The Tom Bagrie-trained three-year-old is fresh up and a $1.70 favourite in Race 5, the Scenic Hotel Mobile Pace (4.40pm). He will be driven by Ricky May.   As the highest-rated horse in the field he’s drawn the outside of the front row over the 1700 metre trip. He has won one from 10 so far. “His…

Excitement around return of Thursday racing at Cambridge

NZHarnessNews

Cambridge Raceway is welcoming a return to Thursday racing, saying it’s “excited” about the move. Last week the Entain and Harness Racing New Zealand management teams were involved in a strategy and review meeting in Auckland, with the “Look North” strategy a key part of their discussions. The strategy was launched as part of the “Future Starts Now” last year and is focused on reinvigorating racing in the north, particularly at Cambridge and Alexandra Park. Entain’s own wagering figures show that punters across the country are supporting Look North. Nationally,…