Motukarara Trotting Association Incorporated AGM – Mot Workouts The AGM will be held at 6.30pm on Monday, 25 November 2024 at the Motukarara Raceway. All current and prospective members are welcome. Over the last few years, we have been faced with many challenges such as lockdowns, weather events etc but we are still standing! We want to invite all local owners and trainers to join our organisation and provide their input into how we can build the workouts bigger and better. The more ideas, the better. Currently membership only costs…
Category: Meeting Previews
Shoeing changes key to bargain buy’s turnaround
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk With typical modesty Bruce Negus brushes off his role in turning around his $700 bargain buy Mouton Cadet. On Wednesday at Rangiora the Sir Lincoln gelding had his fourth career win and his third for Negus since he bought him in July. It was a Team Negus special with Bruce training the seven-year-old and wife Colleen doing the steering on the short-priced favourite in the Remembering OK Oskar Amateur Drivers’ Mobile Pace. After being last turning for home Mouton Cadet was brushed…
The Box Seat – November 19
Check out this week’s The Box Seat with Matt Cross and Greg O’Connor
Hackett hoping to go one better at Manawatu tonight
By Brigette Solomon After combining with local trainer Stephen Doody for four second placings on day one at Manawatu, junior driver Crystal Hackett looks well placed to go one better on several runners tonight. “It was pretty frustrating for both me and Stephen running four seconds on Tuesday, but they all raced well and some should have improved off those runs,” says Hackett. All but one of Hackett’s drives tonight are for Doody, and she starts the evening with Mr Monty in Race 1, the Happy Birthday Brian Gemell Handicap…
The Trials ‘Report Card’ – November 21
What was worth noting from all over the country for the week ending 21/11/2024 Seaclusion (4m Sweet Lou – Classy Beach) Tr. G Rogerson Pukekohe (14/11/24) Stepped to the front and set terms over two rivals, sprinted a sharp 400m to keep Invisible (trail) at bay Last 800m in 59.8, 400m in 27.0. Freshened since disappointing last start late October, a race won co-incidentally by Invisible although she did beat the Purdon/Phelan runner the start prior. Neither horse extended in the run home on a sharp sprint home, overall time…
HRNZ Awards 2024 Season
It’s on again – a date has been confirmed for the NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards in Christchurch. On February 8 the sport’s best performers, both equine and human, from 2024 will be recognised at Addington Raceway. More details will be released in coming weeks but don’t forgot to circle the date – February 8 – because it promises to be epic.
Tact McLeod confirmed for Inter Dominions
By Adam Hamilton Classy Kiwi pacer Tact McLeod has joined the Mark Jones stable and will bring some Kiwi flavour to the Inter Dominions in New South Wales. Jones, who has enjoyed huge recent success in NSW with dual Group 1 Ladyship Mile winner Stylish Memphis, confirmed connections had paid a late nomination fee to tackle the series. It has revived NZ interest in the series after trainer Cran Dalgety scratched Republican Party last Saturday. The Inter Dominion starts with heats at Newcastle on Friday week, moves to Bathurst on…
George Simon celebrates memorable double
By Joshua Smith, Trackside.co.nz Last week will live long in the memory of northern race caller George Simon. On New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington Raceway, he became a Group One-winning standardbred breeder when Marketplace took out the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Final (1980m), and four days later he called Talentoso, who he bred and part-owns with his wife Maryanne, to victory at Tauranga. “It was an unbelievable week,” Simon said. “I was calling Te Aroha last Tuesday and I just sat in the commentary box and watched…
HRNZ’s Owner and Breeder for October
Every month HRNZ picks at random an owner and breeder of the month. The only proviso is that their horse must have won a race during the month. For October Josh Lester was given the owner’s award after Brother Love’s win at Addington on October 3 while breeder of the month was Alan Edge, after Off The Edge’s win at Addington on October 16. Owner of the month : Josh Lester It’s rare for Josh Lester not to be at the races to urge his horse home but he wasn’t…
Industry heartened by Cup week figures
A detailed review will be held into New Zealand Cup week with industry leaders saying initial signs have been largely positive. The sport’s biggest week wound up on Friday after the Cup and Show Day races at Addington and Ashburton’s “meeting of emerging talent” on Thursday. “We knew Show day needed a good shake up and what was delivered was fantastic,” says New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chair John Hartnell, “and the turnover on Friday reflected that.” Turnover was $4.3m on 13 races on Show Day Twilight, up by…