The new $200,000 Group 1 for the four-year-old pacers at Addington Raceway on Friday, December 6 will be known as The Christian Cullen. An on-line poll was held to decide the name of the race, and it was a close run thing. There were three finalists – The Christian Cullen, The Terror To Love and The Southern Cross. Voting on HRNZ’s Facebook page closed last Friday, with The Christian Cullen edging out The Southern Cross. “Christian Cullen seems an ideal fit for this new race,” says Addington Raceway Chief Executive…
Category: Punting
News Briefs : October 30
The first of the Aussie horses are here, a change for SENZ radio, and two NZ records at Ashburton all feature in this week’s News Briefs. The Aussies have landed The first of the Australian visitors for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week have landed. The Jess Tubbs-trained quartet of Just Believe, Better Eclipse, One Over All and He’s From Heaven were due to touch down at 8am today. Superstar trotter Just Believe will go straight to the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday, November 12…
Chilcott goes twofer on a Tuesday
By Brigette Solomon Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott has rounded out the year’s final Trot into Tuesday meeting at her home track with a winning training double. “It was a great night, I was rapt with the horses and a few of their owners were on course to enjoy it which was awesome,” said Chilcott. Chilcott’s first winner of the night was Katies Princess who took out the Flair Junior Drivers Trophy Mobile Pace driven by stable employee and junior driver Leah Hibell. In a confident drive by Hibell, Katies Princess…
Game on! Get your bet on at Addington on Show Day
It’s time to put your money where your mouth is. On Friday November 15, Addington Raceway will host a TAB Show Day Punter of the Year Challenge. Teams of up to four people will battle it out for the ultimate betting bragging rights. Entry for each team is $600, which will go towards your betting funds, with first prize being $4000. A total of $1000 will go to second, and a $500 food and beverage voucher from Spectators Bar and Bistro at Addington will go to third. All prizes will…
Cambridge starts unusual harness racing week
An unusual harness racing week kicks off with the customary Cambridge meeting tonight, with the seven race programme starting at 5.10pm. Winton will then swing into action on Thursday before Methven and Auckland replaces the normal Auckland-Addington double act on Friday. The meeting at Mt Harding will start at 3pm. Included in the races at Alexandra Park will be the latest $16,000 Northern Metro Trotters and Pacers heats before the $35,000 Finals on November 8. The latest Finals last Friday night saw a Crystal Hackett double with Magic Dash and…
Bittersweet Ashburton Flying Stakes for Merlin’s connections
By Michael Guerin The thrill of victory was soon soured for the connections of superstar pacer Merlin at Ashburton. The magnificent pacer displayed manners, power and speed to outmuscle leader Don’t Stop Dreaming in the NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes, moving into clear second favouritism for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on November 12. But that buzz was soon replaced by concern for stablemate Cold Chisel, who pulled up with what could be a major issue in a hind leg. Cold Chisel is raced by Merlin’s owner…
Merlin too good in Ashburton Flying Stakes
Merlin has won this afternoon’s Group 2 NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes, a key lead-up race to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained star began well from his wide draw, before arch rival Don’t Stop Dreaming went round the field three wide to sit parked before going on to lead. That gave Merlin the perfect trail and he then darted up the passing lane to beat Don’t Stop Dreaming. It was a favourites quinella with Alta Meteor…
Dexter wins six Breeder Crown races in epic weekend
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Dexter Dunn’s incredible year in North America has just gone next level. The 10-time former Kiwi champion set a new Breeders Crown record at the Meadowlands in New Jersey over the weekend and in the process become the first driver in North America to win more than $15m in 2024. Over the weekend Dunn was at his best in the Breeders Crown series. There were 12 races at The Big M with Dunn taking out half of them. That beat the previous record…
Kiwi-bound Aussie star makes it 11 from 11
By Adam Hamilton Awesome young trotting filly Keayang Zahara overcame a tricky draw to stretch her unbeaten record to 11 wins in Sunday’s $75,000 Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby (2690m). It capped her preparation for a New Zealand trip where the first target will be the inaugural $500,000 The Velocity at Addington Raceway’s Show Day Twilight races on November 15. Five of Keayang Zahara’s wins have been at Group 1 level and she only started racing in April. The daughter of Volstead drew inside the back row, but driver Jason…
Smoke On The Water too strong in Tuapeka Cup
By Jonny Turner Nothing went right for Smoke On The Water in the Tuapeka Lodge Tuapeka Cup except his winning result. The Canterbury pacer made a successful southern raid when digging in bravely to win after sitting parked for much of the Ascot Park feature. Smoke On The Water’s victory was a family affair with Matthew Williamson doing the driving for his brother-in-law Matt Purvis. The pacer is also raced by Williamson’s father-in-law John Purvis, alongside Graeme McMaster and David Lawn. While hopeful he had earned the position of favourite…