Media Release : Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club Race Day Thursday 4th January 2024 The Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club holds its annual harness race meeting at the Otaki Racecourse on Thursday 4th January 2024 in conjunction with the Otaki Maori Racing Club as a dual code race meeting. This is the fourth occasion on which this has occurred in recent years. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., and the first race is at 11:27 a.m. It is anticipated that there will be six harness races on the programme, with a…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Beach Ball could have the advantage
By Jonny Turner After his scintillating Group Three victory on Grand Prix Day, it is clearly an advantage for Beach Ball heading into the Group One Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup. The pacer heads south for trainer Brendon Hill and driver Ricky May after running away from his rivals to win the Summer Cup Free-For-All, crucially beating his main Invercargill Cup rival in Self Assured. Self Assured now faces the big task of turning around that defeat, which came off level marks from behind the mobile, while giving Beach Ball…
Positive reports for Millwood Nike
The racing career of unbeaten pacing superstar Millwood Nike could be saved. Monday was D-Day for the three-year-old glamour filly who was pulled out of the New Zealand Oaks as the $1.20 favourite two weeks ago after showing signs of lameness. That was soon diagnosed as a small tear in a front leg tendon which was re-scanned yesterday and had it worsened Millwood Nike would have been retired to stud. “We got a positive report,” said co-trainer Mark Purdon. “The damage in the tendon hasn’t gotten any worse and our…
Leap To Fame could tackle Race by Grins
By Adam Hamilton It was long believed Leap To Fame would tackle Perth’s slot race – the Nullarbor – around the same, but owner Kevin Seymour ruled that out today. “He won’t be going to Perth, but we’re looking seriously at NZ,” he said. “We think it’ll be an easier trip and a more suitable race. If he goes to a slot race, it will be Cambridge.” Leap To Fame stamped his greatness with a dominant Brisbane Inter Dominion final win in front a roaring and adoring Albion Park home…
HRNZ Office Hours 2023/24
HRNZ would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a festive and safe New Year. The office is closed from noon Friday 22 December and will reopen on 8 January 2024 at 8.30am. There are staff assigned to provide core services during this period. These staff are contactable between 27 December – 29 December and 3 – 5 January on 03-964-1200 or FreePhone 0508-427-637 or email admin@hrnz.co.nz Enjoy all the racing that’s on all over the break and see you all in 2023.
Leap To Fame and Just Believe star in ID Grand Finals
by Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon stood amongst the crowd at a packed Albion Park as local hero Leap To Fame smashed the track record for the biggest win of his career in last night’s Brisbane Inter Dominion. With Purdon’s stable star Akuta bound for Australia in a few weeks, he got to size-up his major rival. Leap To Fame is “very likely” to chase the Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton in early February and that’s Akuta’s first big Aussie target. “That was great to watch …. the crowd ……
The race within the race in Rangiora Summer Cup
By Jonny Turner Despite being training partners and husband and wife, Colin and Julie DeFilippi will go head to head in the Rangiora Summer Cup on Sunday. The DeFilippi stable will have a big hand in the grass track feature when starting the favourite Here’s Herbie and the well-supported Heza Sport. As well as training the pair, the DeFilippis also own their two starters, with Julie the owner of Here’s Herbie while Colin races Heza Sport. Here’s Herbie was a runaway winner of the recent Geraldine Cup, and he looks…
Last chance for O’Reilly at AYDC
Sarah O’Reilly carries New Zealand’s hopes going into the final heat of the 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship (AYDC) at Albion Park in Brisbane tonight. The leading Kiwi junior is third equal after nine heats on 64 points with Joshua Gallgher, but within striking distance of the two leaders Angus Garrard (80 points) and Emily Suvaljko (73). O’Reilly had two fourths in heats eight and nine at Redcliffe last night. Tonight’s final heat is part of Inter Dominion Grand Final night at Albion Park and is due to go at…
Unfinished business for Kyle Austin
By Michael Guerin Kyle Austin is heading back to The Coast to try and win the Westport Cup his best ever pacer couldn’t. Austin trained Live On Legend to win the feature pace, the Betavet Mobile Pace, at Addington on Friday night, the four-year-old leading throughout in the hands of Blair Orange to beat a brave Fernetti. “Blair’s drive was a big help, he drove him perfectly,” says Austin of the 26.4 second last 400m quarter that secured him the win. It was Live On Legend’s fourth win and a…
Lady Of The Light’s win is what “racing is all about”
By Michael Guerin Jeremy Young never stopped believing in Lady Of The Light. Not when she went nine starts without winning a race last year. Not when she was beaten by Aardie’s Express in the Breeders Stakes a week ago. Not even when she drew the outside of the front line in the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts last Monday. And as it turns out, Young was right. His big, beautiful stable star turned a bad draw into good by using it as the surprise factor in the Alexandra…