Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner A different kind of challenge awaits Alta Meteor following his outstanding win in the Nelson Cup. The Stonewall Stud pacer shrugged off mid-race work as he outstayed his rivals in the 3000m on Friday for driver Tim Williams. Race conditions couldn’t be much more contrasting with the four-year-old setting out over a mile, from the outside of the gate, in the Nelson Classic on Sunday. But with the form he is in, Alta Meteor looks right up for the challenge. “It will be interesting – it is…

By Barry Lichter “We were running but I didn’t think we were going that fast.” It came as news to trainer-driver Nicky Chilcott that Sacred Mountain broke the New Zealand mares’ record for a mobile 2200 metres in Thursday night’s $40,000 Cambridge Trotters’ Flying Stakes – but she described as “insane” the feeling she had while flying along in front. “It’s just the best feeling when you’re in front and charging. “I like to look at the sectionals on the semaphore board but it wasn’t working tonight. The way she…

Some next level glitz and glam will feature in the 2024 Team Teal campaign. Since 2018 Harness Racing New Zealand has been involved in the annual campaign to increase awareness of ovarian cancer, and raise funds for research. This year it will be involved again and a number of fresh initiatives have been confirmed, including a new competition to encourage racegoers to get dressed up in their best teal-coloured outfits. “Frocks at the Trots” is a fashion in the fields competiton – but with a twist. The top two contestants…

By Jonny Turner Cran Dalgety hopes All You Need Is Me can show her speed rather than her sass in her debut at Nelson on Friday. The royally bred daughter of leading sire Captaintreacherous and the superstar racemare Adore Me will make her debut in race 5 with Carter Dalgety in the sulky. While she has plenty to live up to, All You Need Is Me has shown her share of her family’s ability in her recent trial outings. Cran Dalgety just wants to see the filly concentrating on the…

Submissions are now open into a proposal to increase the number of harness race meetings in this country from August this year. TAB operators Entain has floated the idea of potentially having extra meetings in the 2024/25 season with the majority of them being held early in the week, mainly on a Monday and Tuesday. “Entain’s presence opens up an opportunity to do things differently and we are excited about that but a huge amount of work is required in terms of horse numbers, race day costs and funding,” says…

Harness Racing New Zealand would like to remind everyone in the sport of the new rules regarding two-year-olds. From the start of 2024 it’s been decided that two-year-olds can only race against their age group, and not in rating races as they did previously. Around 150 two-year-old races have been programmed this year compared with 82 last season to ensure there are opportunities for all two-year-olds. Note that this policy will be reviewed as the season progresses. Two-year-old races will go ahead as long as there are at least five…

With the big night a little over a month away, tickets are now on sale for the 2023 season NZB Standardbred Harness Racing New Zealand Awards. The awards, culminating in the naming of the 2023 Horse of the Year, will be held at the Christian Cullen Lounge at Addington on Monday, February 19. Tickets for the gala evening, featuring a three course dinner and drinks package, are $130, and $110 for any licence-holder aged under 30. A table of 10 has been discounted to $1170. Tickets are strictly first in…