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,…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Take After Me to make history as retirement looms
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Harness racing history will be made just after 5.18pm at Ashburton Raceway on Wednesday. That’s when the dual gaited veteran Take After Me will line up in his 400th start in the Matt Smith Construction Trot. He’ll be the first standardbred ever in this country to reach that mark. “When you think that he started as a three-year-old in Invercargill and he’s still going as a 14-year-old,” says Kaiapoi-based trainer Fred Scott, “he’s been a great horse to us.” He bred and races…
Ruby Ridge one of a number of chances for Blanchards at Cambridge tonight
Two meetings at Cambridge, including Friday’s dress rehearsal for their Night of Champions and a Sunday triple header all feature in this week’s harness racing around the country. Cambridge kicks things off today with Ashburton tomorrow before Friday Night Lights at Cambridge and Addington. Cambridge’s Friday programme features the two Waikato Flying Miles. Merlin, Duchess Megxit, Mo’unga and Rakero Rocket are the headliners in the Pacers event, with Australian Not As Promised lining up against Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena in the Trotters’ Mile. Both races will be keenly…
Elite Stride quick out of the blocks
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A speedy customer on the track, Elite Stride had the perfect debut as a stallion when Who’s Ya Daddy won at Addington Raceway on Friday night. “He’s one from one,” says Alabar New Zealand’s General Manager Graeme Henley. “That was his first starter and first winner … he’s undefeated.” In just a three horse race Who’s Ya Daddy (Elite Stride – One Night Stand) was nursed along early in the Isaac Infrastructure Two-Year-Old Mobile Trot only to overhaul the pace-making Redpark Warrior to…
Addington’s annual owners night on this Friday
Trainers as well as owners are being encouraged to get along to Addington Raceway’s annual Owners night this Friday. Starting at 5pm, the expo is free to all. The night will feature a number of stall-holders and an array of prizes and giveaways including an accommodation package to Australia worth around $3000, Bed and Breakfast at the Commodore Airport Hotel in Christchurch, and a free entry for a yearling at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales. “We are hopeful of getting around 250 people along,” says Addington Raceway’s Sponsorship Manager…
Alice Sinclair’s Cavalcade adventures – 32 not out
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk With over 100 years between them, Alice Sinclair and Keira are a formidable combination. Earlier this month the Otago-based 89-year-old and her 13-year-old standardbred “Keira” completed the annual Cavalcade in the heart of the South Island. Organized by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust, “cavalcaders” ride horses, wagons, or walk trails, retracing the steps of the old gold miners. For Sinclair it involved seven days of horse riding, covering around 40 kilometres a day. Crossing land that usually only musterers would see the destination, or…
Training first and the return of some familiar colours at Oamaru and Winton
A training first for Grant Milne and a welcome return to the winner’s circle for Murray Brown highlighted harness racing action at Oamaru and Winton over the weekend. First training win for Grant Milne By Jonny Turner Grant Milne lived up to his pedigree when producing his first winner as a trainer at Oamaru on Sunday. Milne is a blueblood in harness racing terms given both of his grandfathers have been leading Southland trainers, while his father and uncles have produced hundreds of winners between them. Milne is the son…
HRNZ Notice – MetaboLize
New Zealand trainers are advised that the feed supplement MetaboLize has been linked to recent cases in Australia and New Zealand involving the detection of caffeine in race day samples. The manufacturer has informed authorities that while the raw materials used in MetaboLize do not contain caffeine, they are currently investigating a possible contamination in a production run from November 2024. Certain batches from this run have been identified as potentially containing caffeine at levels that could result in a positive race day sample. Please see the attached notice here…
Cambridge-bound Aussies in great form across the Tasman
It’s been a big night for Australia’s best trotting and pacing talent. Leap To Fame, Don Hugo and The Locomotive were all among those in winning form last night as they count down to the $650,000 TAB Trot and the $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday, April 4. A $3.30 third favourite for the TAB Trot, The Locomotive has also been confirmed as heading to Sweden to take on the iconic Elitlopp in May. The Locomotive full steam ahead to Sweden By Adam Hamilton …
Staying trip expected to suit Kourtney Kardash in today’s Waimate Cup
By Jonny Turner Trainer-driver Bob Butt thinks Kourtney Kardash is made for the biggest staying test of her career. The five-year-old will be out to add to her stunning record on grass tracks when she lines up in the Whitestone Livestock Waimate Cup at Oamaru on Sunday (4.19pm). With her outstanding grass track stats and her excellent manners in recent standing starts there only looks to be one query for Kourtney Kardash to tick off. The mare will step up to race over 3000m for the first time, a distance…