by Jonny Turner Maurice McKendry has more than one advantage heading into the Three Wise Men series at Methven on Sunday. McKendry, Tony Herlihy and Ricky May make up the trio dubbed the Three Wise Men of New Zealand harness racing who will go head-to-head in a six-race driving series. Born and raised in Methven, McKendry started his incredible harness career in the region. “I did a lot of training around the track when I was starting out, so I know it pretty well.” “Though it was on the old…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Selections | Methven
Trottech’s selections for Methven today. Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 112.00pm 12 The Ivy League6 Tilthesunsets8 Sandfly Bay13 Gold Nugget Race 212.25pm 8 Ideal Katch14 Pacific Clipper12 Shapely3 Zara Tindall Race 312.50pm 3 Amazing Me6 Sweet Spirit8 Choco Lou1 Archie Race 41.15pm 12 Janarty2 Sophia Bromac6 Peraki Reactor8 Nyla Race 51.40pm 3 Izia7 Rachmaninov9 Lucky Way5 Take After Me Race 62.15pm 7 Franco Sinatra6 Bluto4 Borrisokane8 Old Time Rock N Roll Race 72.40pm 8 Beach Ball6 She’s Tough2 Jimmy James Maguire7 Artatac Race 83.05pm…
Betterzippit wins $1m Nullarbor
By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi pacer Betterzippit upstaged some of Australia’s best pacers to win the inaugural $1mil Nullarbor at Gloucester Park last night. But the stories of the race were the continued remarkable rise of young trainer Jason Grimson and the mystifying drive on beaten favourite Magnificent Storm. Grimson surprised many by targeting the Nullarbor with Betterzippit, who had five of his first six Aussie starts for the Menangle trainer, but was yet to be proven at the top level. “When I heard the NZ race (Race by Grins)…
Copy That again shows his class in the $1m Race by Grins
By Michael Guerin For the little pacer who can Copy That the winning isn’t the hard part. He proved that again in the $1million Race by Grins at Cambridge on Friday night as he led and raced away from Old Town Road to record a paint by numbers victory in New Zealand’s richest harness race. Nothing new in that, Copy That was always going to be the horse to beat after drawing to find his favoured pacemaking role, his little legs spinning in a happy rhythm being when he is…
Glorys Delight impressive in Addington win
by Jonny Turner From the moment the mobile left, Glorys Delight never gave her rivals a look in when she powered to victory at Addington on Thursday night. Driver Robbie Close let the Tony Barron trained mare roll along at a strong tempo in the lead and she simply ran her opposition off their feet. It was her fourth win in 18 starts. While she stood tall over her rivals in racing terms, Glorys Delight isn’t a physically imposing type. But she makes up for it with attitude. “She is…
Stars shine ahead of Diamonds Day
By Jonny Turner If yesterday’s Winton meeting is anything to go by, harness racing fans are in for an incredible Diamonds Day at Ascot Park next weekend. A string of outstanding performances by key runners in Diamonds Day’s feature races has only heightened the anticipation ahead of Southland harness racing’s signature race day. The powerful performances started when Black Pearl produced a tough staying effort in the final heat of the Southland Oak series. The filly worked hard in the running, with driver Jonny Cox holding the parked position when…
The $1m Race by Grins is on – Tonight!
What: New Zealand’s only slot race and richest harness race. Where: Cambridge Raceway. When: Friday, gates open 5pm, first race 5.23pm, The Race by Grins at 8.50pm Who: Eight of New Zealand’s elite pacers and two Australian raiders. Stakes : $450,000 to the winner, $150,000 to second, $100,000 to third, $75,000 to fourth, and $37,500 to every other horse in the field. Sponsor : Grins is a company producing Ready to Drink beverages and is the brainchild of Damian McKenzie (the grin behind the name), Anton Lienert-Brown and Stephen Donald.…
Guerin – “The Race by Grins is even and balanced”
By Michael Guerin More than speed, stamina, manners or luck tonight’s $1million Race by Grins could come down to decisions. You might think all races come down to decisions, or the tactics employed by the drivers, but in reality, some just don’t. Truly dominant horses can make their own luck, which is why harness racing has had the great winning streak of heroes like Lyell Creek, Courage Under Fire, Lazarus and plenty of others. Look no further than unbeaten three-year-old filly Millwood Nike. But Australasian pacing lacks a dominant open…
Vale Peter Craig
Harness racing historian Peter Craig is being remembered as someone who made a massive contribution to the sport on both sides of the Tasman. He died suddenly in Christchurch this week. “It’s with great sadness that we have the task of letting the harness racing community know that Peter Craig, a true superstar of the sport, has passed at just 67 years of age,” says long-time friend and colleague Dean Baring. “Peter made a massive contribution to harness racing both here in Australia and back home in NZ.” “In our…
The 3000 club heading to Methven this Sunday
by Don Rae On Sunday the Methven Trotting Club is proud to welcome the three most successful reinsmen in New Zealand trotting history. They have been fixtures at the top of or near the top of every national drivers’ premiership table since the late 1970s and have won every significant race on the racing calendar one or more times. They are indeed the Three Wise Men of New Zealand harness racing – and Tony Herlihy M.N.Z.M., Maurice McKendry M.N.Z.M. and Ricky May will compete for honours over a 6 race…