Category: Meeting Previews

Early 21st birthday present for Crystal Hackett at AYDC

NZHarnessNews

Crystal Hackett’s having a week she’ll never forget across the Tasman. Today the talented junior turns 21, just a day after winning the second heat of the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships (AYDC) in Sydney. She’ll mark her birthday with two more drives at Bathurst tonight, at 8.37pm and 10.03pm. Hackett’s competing in her third AYDC. Yesterday her win at Menangle came with Cabana. It was a Kiwi quinella, with Our Chiquitita and Sam Thornley second. “We were a day early and to drive a winner on my birthday would be…

Dalgety’s late bid for the Junior Drivers’ premiership

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Wednesday’s racing at Oamaru could make or break Carter Dalgety’s national junior drivers premiership hopes. The midweek meeting is at the beginning of an impressive line-up of drives Dalgety has over the coming five days.  Dalgety (52) heads to Oamaru eight wins behind premiership leader Sam Thornley (60)who has a five-win lead over Wilson House (55), though this week Thornley is away at the Australasian Young Drivers Championships.  While Dalgety knows catching to two talented drivers in front of him is a huge ask, he knows it…

Tact McLeod returns to action at Menangle this Saturday

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton   Tact McLeod’s Inter Dominion campaign may have been thwarted, but the emerging Kiwi pacer will chase some other big races in Australia. Trainer Mark Jones confirmed the Bendigo, Ballarat and Hunter Cups were on the menu for the gelding, who was scratched from a late bid at the NSW Inter Dominions with an abscess. Tact McLeod, who hasn’t raced since a luckless fifth in the Group 1 NZ Free-For-All at Addington on November 15, will return to racing in a support race at Menangle at Saturday…

Tough draw for Princess in Queen of Hearts

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Last Friday’s stunning Alexandra Park debutante Princess Meritaten faces an even tougher task when she returns for the $100,000 Woodlands Stud Queen of Hearts this week. Princess Meritaten’s win had to be seen to be believed as she flew home from a seemingly hopeless position to win on her northern debut last Friday. It looked the perfect lead-in to this Friday’s Group 1 but the Canterbury mare has not fared well in the barrier draw for the fillies and mares mobile 2200m. She has drawn the outside…

Poutama with good chances at Manawatu today

NZHarnessNews

A big Auckland meeting, featuring two $100,000 Group 1s, will highlight harness racing action this week. Manawatu will kick start the week with eight races today (Tuesday) starting at 4.21pm with Oamaru tomorrow and then Winton’s meeting on Thursday. Friday Night Lights will feature an Auckland-Addington double-header.  The $100,000 Group 1 TAB Queen of Diamonds Handicap Trot and the Queen of Hearts Pace for the Fillies and Mares will be the night’s two features, along with the $60,000 Group 2 Franklin Cup and the latest Northern Metro Pacers and Trotters…

Update on the stable audit review and welfare inspections

NZHarnessNews

The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) has completed its review of the animal welfare audit program. Following valuable feedback from industry stakeholders we are introducing a revised system of steward’s inspections. This change underscores our commitment to addressing industry concerns and establishes an inspection model that emphasises practicality, enhances collaboration, and ensures a balanced and effective approach to compliance monitoring. At the same time, it reinforces our legislative responsibility to uphold high standards of animal welfare. By transitioning from the formal audit program to this more streamlined and cooperative process, we…

AYDC gets underway Tuesday in New South Wales

NZHarnessNews

The Kiwi challenge to win the Australasian Young Drivers Championships (AYDC) starts at Menangle in Sydney tomorrow (Tuesday). Crystal Hackett (above), Sam Thornley (below) and Kerryn Tomlinson will compete against Australia’s top talent over nine heats, with the opening two heats both over a mile, at 5.12pm and 6.22pm. All three will debut brand new driving suits for the occasion.   For Hackett it’s her third AYDC while Thornley’s last appearance was in 2022 when he was leading for much of the championships, only to finish second. This will be…

Awards Update

NZHarnessNews

The 2024 season Awards night will see an important change to the age group and major awards and a new award recognising Club Contribution. The awards, celebrating the best performers and performances of the 2024 season, will be held at Addington Raceway, on Saturday, February 8. Next year’s awards will feature some important changes, with Australian-trained horses being eligible for age group and major awards. They will be judged on their performances on this side of the Tasman only. The age group and major awards will be decided by a…

Funding boost for racing will help create jobs in the regions

NZHarnessNews

Harness Racing NZ has welcomed proposed changes that would give TAB NZ the exclusive rights for online racing and sports betting in New Zealand. Racing Minister Winston Peters said the Government will shortly introduce legislation to amend the Racing Industry Act 2020. “This is welcome news for everyone involved in the New Zealand harness racing industry,” says Harness Racing Chief Executive Brad Steele. The introduction of the so-called “legislative net” is aimed at stopping millions annually going to offshore racing and sports betting operators. “We are already seeing the fruits…

In-form Ferguson takes out Cups double at Wingatui

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Craig Ferguson continued his spectacular run of form when winning both the Forbury Park pacing and trotting cups at Wingatui on Sunday. Ferguson produced Nutcracker for a most professional victory in the Kia Ora Campers Pacing Cup before Moment Of What continued his outstanding progression with his trotting cup victory in the Icon Interior Construction Trotting Cup.  Just two days prior, the reinsman clinched the biggest win of his driving career when taking out the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Addington with We Walk By Faith. …