Category: Punting

Harness Racing New Zealand has seen reports highlighting the end of Operation Inca. However we are still waiting for official confirmation that the investigation has come to an end and that charges have been dropped. We are currently seeking that information and confirmation. It has been a challenging time for the industry and once we know more, we may well look to see what else is needed to support our participants and our integrity. In the interim we have no further comment as we believe there may still be outstanding…

Here’s this week’s  Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.

By Michael Guerin Two-time New Zealand Cup hero Copy That is off to Australia again, but not to race this time. The wonderful pacer missed his shot at a NZ Cup three-peat when he went sore with a knee issue and potential other concerns a few weeks before the Cup but trainer Ray Green says things are looking up. “I am more confident now that he will race again than I was when it first all happened,” says Green. “He has been walking in the cart every day and walks…

By Jonny Turner A familiar sight will be back at Ascot Park racecourse today, and it is not a horse or driver. It is the Koru Care Southland colours, which will return to Southland harness racing meetings starting with today’s quickfire action in Invercargill. The green and white Koru Care Southland silks were a familiar sight on Southland tracks for many seasons, especially when worn by champion reinsman Dexter Dunn. The silks were first worn by Dunn a decade ago, with a sponsor donating to Koru Care Southland at each…

By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s first Trot Slot race is confirmed and already has its first slot filled. The TAB Trot Slot will be run as expected alongside the Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 12 next year for a stake of $575,000, making it the richest trot race ever held in Australasia. It will have eight slots, most of them purchased by the connections of leading trotters so will have an old fashioned sweepstakes race feel to it. The eight slots have been taken by: TAB NZ, Aldebaran…

By Mike Love Deny Everything scored a well-earned victory when he won Saturday’s Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup at Phar Lap Raceway. The Mark Jones-trained seven-year-old capitalised on his good manners, securing the trail with driver Samantha Ottley before peeling off the back of the pacemaker and third placegetter Heisenberg, to win by one and a quarter lengths from Tanzania. “It was awesome, very satisfying,” says Ottley. “We’ve all had to be so patient with him. Everyone is rapt.” Deny Everything has had an interrupted career, having three wind operations…

Every week we look at the trials and workouts from right around the country. Who’s impressing and who looks ready to race? Pukekohe Workouts Saturday 25th NovemberWeather Fine Track fast Major Achievement (3g Art Major – Atom Queen) The Green-trained runner settled third of five and stayed there until stablemate and pacemaker Beaudiene Rocknroll went off stride 600m out, took the opportunity to take over and kept going strongly to hold his rivals at bay. MR:2:03.9, 800m in 59.0, 400m in 29.6. Maiden win was four starts ago and looks…

Nominations are now open for the Stablehand of the Year Award to be awarded at the annual NZB Standardbred Harness Racing NZ Awards night on 19th February 2024. Nominations can be sent in by trainers who employ a stablehand who always goes the extra mile, has the horses best interests at heart, always puts in 100% and and has a fantastic working attitude. All nominations must be emailed to courtney@hrnz.co.nz by Thursday 7th December at 5pm. Nominations must include a couple of paragraphs as to why you are nominating and…

NEXT stop New Zealand for Australia’s top three-year-old trotter Not As Promised. Father-son training team Graham and Layne Dwyer said they were looking forward to facing the best of the Kiwis after Not As Promised snared his second Group 1 victory of the season at Melton last night. First came the Victoria Trotters’ Derby as a rank outsider, but Not As Promised was a $2 favourite when he worked to front and won as he liked in the $75,000 Breeders Crown final last night. “It’s a relief to get this…