Category: Harness

A new initiative is being launched by Harness Racing New Zealand to encourage new owners. Labelled “Next Gen”, the scheme’s ambition is to be a game changer. “We want people to ‘Own The Thrill’,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Brad Steele, who’s the architect behind the project. “We need to get new and younger people involved, convey the excitement of owning and racing a horse, and provide pathways for trainers and others making their way in our sport.” Total new additional bonuses of up to $600,000 per year will be awarded…

By Mike Love  Sam Ottley, New Zealand’s most winningest female driver, picked up win number 800 at the Ashburton meeting yesterday.  Driving the John Howe-trained Didjaseemiki in Race 5, the John Rollinson & Cash Register Memorial Mobile Ottley was able to settle toward the rear of the field from their wide draw. Ottley then made a move at the 900m being able to flush out a drag up. Being beautifully placed, it was a timely run to get up and win by a neck.  “Coaster said he’s a speed horse…

By Michael Guerin Arna Donnelly had never won a $100,000 race before Friday night: now she has won three. And after her treble on the inaugural Golden Gait night at Alexandra Park she has her eyes set on even bigger targets. The popular Waikato trainer captured a treble with three very different types of horses the first being Chase Me who capped a wonderful debut season with an impressive win in the TAB Golden Gait 2YO Mobile Pace. “He is a really promising horse and what makes it even better…

By Michael Guerin There couldn’t be a more deserving stable to win the first ever TAB Golden Gait Final held than Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett. But Belle Neige’s win in the $100,000 opener at Alexandra Park, the TAB Golden Gait Aged R49 – R60 Mobile Trot, was only the start of a stunning night for the husband and wife team. The numbers are impressive, the stable producing the first four home in the opening race, with daughter Crystal driving the winner. They doubled up in the next, the TAB…

By Jonny Turner   It was a day to savour for Team Dalgety at Invercargill yesterday. Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained three winners on the day including Republican Party in the feature, the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup and son Carter had four wins in the sulky to launch him to the top of the junior drivers’ premiership. The combination proved unstoppable in the $100,000 Invercargill Cup when their five-year-old made a brilliant beginning to set up a powerful front-running victory. The win was something of a carbon…

The punters came for him late and Republican Party delivered with a powerhouse performance in today’s $100,000 Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup. Trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driven by son Carter, Republican Party, who was a fast finishing third in last month’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, was backed in from $6 to $3.50.  After starting off 10m, Republican Party was put into the race by Dalgety, heading to the front with two laps to go. From there he was just far too strong, giving Dalgety…

By Brigette Solomon  Ohaupo trainer Jason Teaz was rapt to train a winning double for owner and breeder Bill Hickey at Cambridge Raceway last night. “It was really nice to get a double and so great that they were for Bill,” said Teaz, “he’s in his 80’s now and his health hasn’t been the best lately but he’s still breeding horses and putting them in training, and he really deserves any success he gets, he just lives for his horses.” “Unfortunately, he couldn’t be there last night, and he was…