Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner The All Stars stable has touched down in Invercargill and all signs point to them making a big impact in Southland’s first-ever Group 1 race. The Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen stable have a huge hand to play in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup with their open class stars Self Assured and Spankem. Having competed successfully at every harness racing carnival in Australasia that matters, Mark Purdon is looking forward to being a part of Southland’s history-making day. “Absolutely – it has been a while since I…

By Jonny Turner Southland harness racing lost a much-respected horseman and one of its greatest contributors with the passing of successful trainer Ron Barron. The father of prominent trainers Clark, Ken and Tony Barron enjoyed a stellar career that began shortly before he produced his first winner at Gore in 1979. 1997 Southland harness horse of the year Incredible Fella and Makarewa Sun were among the best horses to wear Ron Barron’s colours. Barron won 133 races in his own right and another 38 in partnership with son Tony, who…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Promising juvenile Lord Logan broke through for his maiden victory at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night and his connections are hoping there are plenty more in store. The Sweet Lou gelding finished runner-up on debut earlier in the month and was subsequently backed into $2.40 favouritism for the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace (2200m). He was eased off the gate by driver Peter Ferguson to sit midfield behind a hot early pace before improving to sit in the one-one at the bell.…

By Michael Guerin One of the country’s most tactical drivers believes Stylish Memphis can win tonight’s $100,000 Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park but not in the manner many would expect. David Butcher will partner the multiple Group 1-winning mare for only the second time in Auckland’s richest mare’s pace of the year but liked how she felt when storming into third in the lead-up race last Friday. Stylish Memphis is racing in foal so opportunities to embellish her record are running out and if she races up to the…

The next Harness Racing New Zealand awards in 2023 will have a fresh look. The awards, to be held at Addington Raceway on Saturday March 4, will recognise excellence for the 2022 calendar year, including Driver, Trainer and Horse of the Year. There will be four new awards, designed to encourage those at all tiers of the sport – from those starting out in their careers to those who are regarded as all-time legends. The four awards are: The Newcomer to Training Award:To be eligible for this award, trainers must…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Trainers Steven Reid and Simon McMullan are hoping they can toast to another victory with Mo Szyslak when he heads to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday for the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (2200m). The three-year-old son of Sweet Lou was rewarded for his consistency with a win at the Waikato track earlier this month and they believe there are more to come. “I have been rapt with the way he has been going. He has been a slow maturing horse. I have had a bit…

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

Michael House hits 700 Surely one of the country’s busiest trainers, Michael House has gone past 700 career successes. Fittingly the Canterbury-based House passed the milestone at Manawatu, one of his happy hunting grounds in recent years. He had four winners on the night. The 700 came up with Smokin Annie, and then Rollwithit finished up a most successful night to give him 701 overall, since starting out in 1988. Monkey King to be on TV Two-time New Zealand Cup winner and all-time great Monkey King is going to be…