by Don Rae Friday will see the running of one of trotting’s great races but who is the Rowe behind the Rowe Cup? Along with the Dominion Handicap, the Rowe Cup ranks as one of New Zealand’s premier races for the square-gaiters, with Friday’s edition being the 105th edition of the great race, after the Australian-bred Whisht – owned, trained and driven by Hawera’s Jim Corrigan – won the very first Rowe Handicap Trot in 1918. John Rowe was probably the Lyell Creek of harness racing administrators in his time.…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Entain-TAB deal approved by Government
The Government has today approved a strategic arrangement between the TAB and leading British betting agency Entain. The 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will benefit the three New Zealand Racing Codes and 38 National Sporting Organisations, while bringing world class products, services and gambling harm minimisation tools to TAB NZ’s 250,000 customers. The deal has been described as “a monumental step in shoring up the future of New Zealand racing.” The deal means the minimum racing code distribution will be at least $150m annually for the next five years. TAB NZ…
Bluto latest Sweet Lou colt to shine
What a run of success Sweet Lou is having of late. On Friday his progeny took out a treble at Addington (Watermelon Sugar, Bluto and Raklou), doubles at Gloucester Park, Launceston and Ballarat as well as the quinella in the Wagga Wagga Regional Championship Final. As Rob Courtney reports Bluto is continuing a winning run for one of Sweet Lou’s biggest fans, Otago trainer Graeme Anderson. Graeme Anderson has a saying – “Jed Clampett (of the Beverly Hillbillies) found oil, I found the Sweet Lous” – and it looks…
Second row draw for Akuta in Auckland Cup
By Michael Guerin No sooner had a surprising recovery put Akuta back in the frame for the Auckland Trotting Cup this Friday than his chances received another body blow – a second row draw. The imposing four-year-old missed last Friday’s Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park because of a hoof abscess that burst out on the morning of the race and co-trainer Mark Purdon was initially concerned it wouldn’t heal in time for Akuta to take his place in this Friday’s Group 1. But after being re-shod to take pressure…
Draw not good for Aussie hope in Elitloppet
By Adam Hamilton Top Aussie driver Greg Sugars is looking for positives after a nasty barrier draw for Just Believe’s Elitloppet heat at Solvalla, Sweden. The Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star winner will start from the second outside gate (barrier seven) in the second of two Elitloppet heats in Stockholm at 1.55am Monday morning (NZ time). “I said before the draw, I’d have loved barrier four or closer in, but we didn’t get it,” Sugars said. “It’s not ideal, obviously closer in would’ve been better, but I’m just thrilled…
Aussie News – May 21
By Adam Hamilton Trotting guru Chris Lang had a plan and executed it superbly. Lang felt he had former top young Kiwi trotter Ultimate Stride back to his best and drove him accordingly, to stunningly upset glamour mare Queen Elida in the free-for-all at Melton last night. Once he found the front, Lang pinched a cosy lead time and 30.6sec first quarter before letting Ultimate Stride really roll along in front. He went 57.9sec from the 1200-400m, making Queen Elida really have to chase hard after giving him a 25m…
Yesberg team yields value at Rangiora
By Mike Love, Harness News Desk Ohoka trainer Trent Yesberg takes a handy team to Rangiora today, including Uptown Funk in the $17,000 Anne Thompson Memorial Graduation final. Uptown Funk, the Art Major three-year-old Art Major gives Yesberg his best chance of the day. Clearing maidens at Rangiora two starts back on May 7th, then backing it up with a solid 7th at Addington last week, Yesberg believes the gelding will assert himself well today. “He’s definitely got the ability to give them a good shake. I’ve always had a…
Invercargill winner Johns Boy – “as honest as the day is long”
By Jonny Turner Johns Boy ran to a deserved victory and a special win for the Crofts family at Ascot Park on Saturday. After competing in several Gold Chip Finals, the trotter charged home late to clinch a well-earned win for trainer Lindsay Veint and driver Andrew Armour. Johns Boy is raced by father and son Barry and Tony Crofts, alongside the estate of the late John Crofts. Barry and Tony Crofts were thrilled to cheer home the trotter named after their late father and grandfather. “It is good, it…
Selections | Rangiora
Trottech’s selections for Rangiora today. Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 112.12pm 7 Rush3 Rachmaninov9 Kohli Trouble5 Racey Krusa Race 212.40pm 6 Cant Touch This5 Ambleside Drive13 The Welsh Dragon2 Loch Lomond Race 31.09pm 1 Fernz Goldy12 Atomic Traveller7 Valynda11 Opawa Louie Race 41.34pm 8 Kowhai Sundown3 Brother Love10 Buffy Northstains5 Kink Race 51.59pm 1 Stellar Arden11 Betterwithbling6 Hes Santas Excuse5 Bobby Waterhouse Race 62.24pm 5 Jack Tar6 Artatac4 Champagneandwine3 Santanna Mach Race 72.59pm 10 Eyre I Will2 Kawhi8 Celtic Arden9 Te Rapa Race 83.24pm…
Two down, one to go for Tony Barron
By Jonny Turner Tony Barron has the chance to complete a rare feat following the win of Lifes A Beach at Addington on Friday night. Lifes A Beach bounced back to her best form when pouncing late in the Second Autumn Mares Autumn Fillies & Mares Sprint for driver John Morrison. The mare hadn’t been in the form of her life leading into her win, but she had been running creditable races through the autumn in strong company. When Lifes A Beach took her opportunity to show she hadn’t lost…