Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) is pleased to announce that the National Bureau will officially be in operation from Monday, April 7, 2025. The Bureau is a significant step forward in streamlining the nomination, acceptance, and field release process for the sport across the country. From this date, all of these functions will be managed through a centralised system overseen by HRNZ, ensuring greater consistency and efficiency. For trainers making nominations and/or withdrawals these should be made via the HRNZ website or app. Race programmes will also be produced directly…
Category: Punting
Lethaby takes five to Timaru
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk From her West Melton base Amber Lethaby will take five horses south to Timaru on Wednesday. The Timaru Harness Racing’s midweek meeting is a first for the club. It marks the first time they’ll race on the grass track usually reserved for the gallopers at Phar Lap Raceway. From her five chances Lethaby reckons some can certainly run in the money. “When you look at Racey Krusa, Sweet Glory and Gamely they are all each-way chances, the other two I would just be…
Lord Delmar goes for three in a row at Manawatu
By Brigette Solomon Lord Delmar is after a hat-trick of wins and just his second in two days when he lines up in Tuesday’s Peter and Wendy Ferguson Mobile Pace at Manawatu (5.44pm). The Downbytheseaside four-year-old was the standout performer at Sunday’s meeting taking out the City of Palmerston North Festival Cup for local trainer John Gommans. He trains the horse alongside his son Mark Gommans. “We were rapt with him, he’s really turned the corner,” said Mark Gommans, “there’s still a few things to work out on him yet…
Lexi and her “spicy pony”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Lexi Nolan wanted a horse with attitude – and it sounds like she’s got exactly that in Elsu gelding No Way Else. “I like the spicy ponies,” says the 19-year-old, “he’s got a big personality. And he is pretty.” The pair have had a great start to 2025, crowned the Champion at January’s North Island Standardbred Championships and then winning the Harness to Hack event at the Waikato Equestrian Centre in late March. At the latter, against 12 other competitors, they won the In-hand and Jumping disciplines…
Aussies arrive for Friday’s big showdowns at Cambridge
By Michael Guerin The man behind Australian champion pacer Leap To Fame says he doesn’t mind where he draws in Friday’s $1m Race by betcha at Cambridge. But he does care where his key opponents draw. Grant Dixon has finally made it to New Zealand with his pacing hero after Leap To Fame was booked to come to last November’s New Zealand Cup but had to be pulled out with a blood complaint. He was also touted as potentially coming to this slot race last year but never made it…
Wyndham, Rangiora and Manawatu all feature on Super Sunday
It’s a rare harness racing triple header around the country today, with meetings at Wyndham, Rangiora and then Manawatu. Sam Thornley has some good each way changes in Canterbury as does Zachary Butcher at Manawatu, and racing journalist Jonny Turner has his Five to Follow at Wyndham. Sam Thornley rates his chances at Rangiora By Mike Love Canterbury junior reinsman Sam Thornley heads to Rangiora today with a solid book of drives, including some decent each way chances. “There are a few that have better chances than others, but in…
Purdons dominate Flying Miles night at Cambridge
By Michael Guerin Reminders don’t come much more timely than what Mark Purdon unleashed at Cambridge on Friday night. Here we were, a week out from the mega money slot races and with the Australian barbarians at the gate and the locals with all sort of issues and question marks. For much of the last decade when he needed a harness racing Superman to restore Kiwi pride he came in a blue cape with silver stars. But there is no hiding from the fact Mark Purdon is kinda semi retired,…
The big return for The Big Lebowski
By Jonny Turner Plenty may have changed for The Big Lebowski but one factor remains the same ahead of his return to southern racing on Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes Day at Wyndham on Sunday. The well-travelled pacer is back in the province where he was bred and raised to restart his career at the Brett Gray stable. After last starting in the Group 1 Auckland Cup for Ray Green, The Big Lebowski looks well placed in Sunday’s Hunter Family Handicap (4.43pm). But only if he can make a clean beginning.…
Aussie’s big three on their way to Cambridge’s Night of Champions
By Adam Hamilton There is no turning back this time. After two aborted trips to NZ last year, champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame is definitely heading across this time for next Friday’s $1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge. “Larry” will be on a flight from Sydney to Auckland at 11am Sunday morning, along with Australia’s two other highest profile Cambridge raiders, Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo and Inter Dominion trotting winner The Locomotive. Leap To Fame returned to winning form when he smashed the 1660m track record winning…
Purdons dominate Flying Mile night at Cambridge
By Michael Guerin Reminders don’t come much more timely than what Mark Purdon unleashed at Cambridge on Friday night. Firstly it was Chase A Dream who defied his big price ($24) and poor recent form to take out the Garrards Waikato Pacers Flying Mile and then stablemate Oscar Bonavena completed the double in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Waikato Trotters Flying Mile. There is no hiding from the fact Mark Purdon is semi retired, son and training partner Nathan is in the throes of moving north and what has been our go-to…