Copy That’s bid for a record-equalling third New Zealand Cup is over. It’s been revealed the champion pacer has a knee injury which has him ruled out of the country’s biggest race at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. Copy That has had two runs this campaign, a third and a second at Alexandra Park in September. The winner of 33 races and more than two million dollars in stakes Copy That was vying to be just the fourth horse ever to win three New Zealand Cups in a row, joining…
Author: NZHarnessNews
The Box Seat – October 3
Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for this week’s edition of The Box Seat.
No pain all gain for Swain
By Mike Love Castelo De Vide gave Makarewa trainer Earl Swain a decent thrill at Gore when he won the Gore Septic Tanks Services Mobile pace over 2200m last week. And it was an overdue second success for a horse that earlier in his career looked destined for big things. “It was a very good win,” says Swain of his 41st training success, “I’m very happy.” It was Castelo De Vide’s second victory in 13 starts and nearly three years after his first, an eight length victory at Addington on…
Latest NZ Cup and Dominion Trot Rankings
Republican Party has been one of the big movers in the latest NZ Cup and Show week rankings. Not only did his win in Friday’s Group 2 Canterbury Classic at Addington seal him a place in the IRT New Zealand Cup it also saw his ranking climb seven places, from 12th to fifth. The Dalgety-trained pacer and champion driver Blair Orange made perfect use of the passing lane to head off Cup favourite Akuta and Macandrew Aviator. Macandrew Aviator’s third position also guaranteed him a spot in the Cup field…
The Bolt is back and good to go
By Michael Guerin When a great horse gets cut down by injury at the peak of their powers you can wonder whether they will ever be as good again. In the case of outstanding trotter Bolt For Brilliance, champion trainer-driver Tony Herlihy has no doubts. “Bolt”, as he is known, returns at Alexandra Park on Friday 10 months after fracturing his leg when hot favourite to win the Inter Dominion Trotting Final. He came off the track sore at Geelong on December 3, having finished a close second to eventual…
Retirement confirmed for AG’s White Socks
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Multiple Group-winning pacer A G’s White Socks has gone full circle. Foaled at Pat Laboyrie’s property near Lake Karapiro in the Waikato in 2013, the nine-year-old gelding will now spend his retirement there, after the owners decided to call time on his racing career. “It’s just he’s feeling a bit of wear and tear, he was feeling sore so we decided to not bring him back into work,” says Laboyrie. Recently the owners, including Laboyrie, brought the son of Rock N Roll Heaven…
Late push sees Blue September top $30,000
Harness Racing New Zealand’s annual fund-raiser for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation has raised over $30,000. The Blue September campaign finished with a bang, with 12 wins at Cambridge and Gore on Thursday, and two more on Friday at Addington. Money was raised every time one of the Blue September ambassadors won a race during the month, with contributions coming from HRNZ ($100 per win), clubs and the drivers’ individual sponsors. In all the ambassadors racked up exactly 50 wins with the country’s top driver Blair Orange leading the…
Cameras to be worn by RIB investigators from today
Body worn cameras (BWCs) are being introduced by the RIB from 2 October 2023, primarily to protect the safety of our investigators, while also providing evidential benefits. A BWC is a small camera worn on the clothing or attached to a vest worn by an investigator, used to gather audio and video. Research shows these cameras, commonly worn by people in compliance roles, will be a deterrent against anti-social and obstructive behaviour such as verbal or physical abuse, which may occur while Investigators are making enquiries in the course of…
One-on-one with the O’Reillys
In the latest in his series Greg O’Connor goes one-on-one with the O’Reillys.
Harrison Orange making a name for himself in north
By Brigette Solomon While we are very familiar with the Orange surname heading the Drivers’ Premiership Table, it’s Harrison Orange’s name that has begun appearing alongside Trial winners in the North Island. Harrison is the son of successful reinsman Blair Orange, a five-time New Zealand Drivers Premiership winner who looks set to make it a sixth this season. His Mum, Lisa Godsall, also had success as a Junior Driver. The 16-year-old, originally from Canterbury, began his career in harness racing in earnest this year achieving his Trials Licence in April…