Author: NZHarnessNews

Harness Racing New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Woodham will be taking a short leave of absence, after suffering a medical event at work yesterday. After undergoing surgery at Christchurch Hospital, Gary’s condition has stabilised over the last 24 hours. He’s expected to return home over the weekend. In Gary’s absence General Manager Corporate Services Liz Bishop will be responsible for all operational and financial matters and General Manager – Racing Catherine McDonald will deal with everything racing-related. Our thoughts go out to Gary and his family and we ask everyone…

By Adam Hamilton The early signs are very promising for former star Kiwi pacer South Coast Arden in his new home. Now with Paul Fitzpatrick in NSW, South Coast Arden made his first public appearance since leaving Brent Mangos’ NZ barn when he trialled at Menangle midweek. “He had a nice run in behind the leader and won the trial,” Fitzpatrick said. “Gavin (Fitzpatrick) said he felt good and did it comfortably. “They only went a 1min54sec mile but that’s about what we wanted because it was his first trial…

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News. 

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin. 

Grass track turnovers strong With winter fast approaching grass track racing is now on hold till spring. The final grass track meeting was at Geraldine last Friday. Since Methven on September 11 last year there have been 39 race days on the grass in this country with latest figures reinforcing their popularity. Average turnover was $944,631.59 per meeting which is well up on the all weather ($796,969.09) with the average Gross Betting Revenue (GBR) at $183,772.28, compared to $128,672.03 for the all-weather. Favourites won 30.1 per cent of the time…

By Michael Guerin Ex-pat trainer Brent Lilley was thrilled with Aldebaran Zeus’s draw for Friday night’s $90,000 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot, until he saw who had drawn inside his star trotter. Aldebaran Zeus will start from barrier two over the 2700m mobile and would normally be expected to blast straight to the lead but drawn directly to his inside is hot favourite Muscle Mountain, a rare Kiwi open class trotter with gate speed similar to a top Australian trotter. Lilley is still confident Aldebaran Zeus will have the speed…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s been nearly 30 years in the making but trainer Des Baynes produced a rare quinella on one of Southland’s biggest race days on Sunday. Storyteller and Repetitive, both sporting Baynes’ distinctive gold and brown hoops, went 1-2 in the Betavet Mobile pace on Diamonds Day at Invercargill. Records show it was his first quinella since Out All Knight and Toss The Dice delivered at Invercargill on Jan 14, 1994. His response : “Good grief – it’s worse than I thought … it’s…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After last racing in an eventful $100,000 Group 1 at Addington, Secret Delight will line up at Ashburton today, rating an each way chance in Race 7, the McIntosh Catering Pace (4.15pm). Trained by Telfer/Cullen, the smart three-year-old filly warmed up for her race day return by winning a trial at Rangiora nearly a fortnight ago and is currently the second favourite  ($6)  behind the red hot All Stars runner Vinke B ($1.60). It’s her first race since Grand Prix day at Addington…

By Michael Guerin Taylor Mile winner Akuta is going to be allowed to miss the Group 1 Messenger at Alexandra Park this Friday even though there is nothing wrong with the star four-year-old. Akuta grabbed his brave stablemate Self Assured and impressive Victorian pacer Better Eclipse in the last stride of the $90,000 Mile at Alexandra Park last Friday after an early burn saw hot favourite Copy That left vulnerable in front. He was the third different winner in the three open class pacing features in the north in 15…