Yet another milestone for our top driver, the barrier reveals for Cambridge’s big night and two good trial performances all feature in this week’s News Briefs.
Orange inches towards 3000
Blair Orange is getting ever closer to becoming just the fourth driver to win 3000 races in this country. He passed 2900 winners when Almighty Clever won for trainer Matt Purvis at Addington last Wednesday. He now has 2906 winners in total. Just three drivers are ahead of him – Tony Herlihy (3700), Maurice McKendry (3417) and Ricky May (3159). Orange has won the drivers’ premiership for the past seven years and is currently leading in 2025 as well with 51 wins. In-form junior Wilson House is second on 34 while his father Michael House leads the trainers’ premiership with 45, 24 clear of Steve and Amanda Telfer. Bruce Negus has also had a notable milestone. He had his 600th training success when Classie Linc won for Sheree Tomlinson at Oamaru on Sunday.
Cambridge’s barrier reveal confirmed
The barrier reveals for the two big races on Cambridge’s Night of Champions will be broadcast on Trackside next Tuesday, April 1. The draws for the $600,000 TAB Trot and the $1m Race by betcha will be at 7.30pm, followed by the Box Seat at 8pm. Cambridge’s biggest race night on Friday, April 4 will be followed an after party featuring country music star Kaylee Bell. Tickets are on sale now from $55.
To find out more click here
Change of date for Invercargill meeting
The Invercargill Harness Racing Club RC meeting set down for Wednesday 23 April at Ascot Park will now be run on Thursday 24 April, at the request of the TAB. The estimated start time will remain approx 2.00pm. For any queries contact andrewm@hrnz.co.nz or matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz
Sunnys Sister is back
She’s back. Multiple Group 1 winner Sunnys Sister has been at the trials, winning her appearance at Rangiora yesterday from Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained stablemate Very Majestic. Sunnys Sister, the winner of nine from 29 including the 2023 New Zealand Trotting Derby and the Trotting Oaks, has not been seen on the race track since the Ordeal Cup at Addington last September. And Xlendi, a five length winner of the Nelson Cup in January, has come back in good shape, with a win at the same trials yesterday beating Franco Elvis by three quarters of a length. The seven-year-old has won five from 21.
Trot Prelude on this Friday
The New Zealand Sires Stakes assess the form ahead of this Friday’s 3YO Trot Prelude at Addington. To read more click here
OnTrack looking for champions
Racing’s mental well being and suicide prevention programme, OnTrack, is holding its next Champions course in Christchurch tomorrow on March 27. The Champions is programme is designed to empower and educate those in the racing industry to support mental well-being in their communities. Anyone interested in becoming a Champion should contact james@ontrack.org.nz.
Gong for Hall
Associated with such Kiwi-bred multi-millionaires as Im Themightyquinn and Chicago Bull, Gary Hall senior has been given the Harness Racing Australia’s Distinguished Service Award. The Western Australian great has been in the sport for more than 40 years and has trained more than 3560 winners. He won three Inter Dominion finals and an Auckland Cup with Im Themightyquinn. My Hard Copy was another of his best winners.
Export fee from June 1
An export fee is being introduced for New Zealand horses heading to China. Harness Racing New Zealand advises a fee of $300 plus GST per horse will be effective from June 1, 2025. From January 1, 2026 the full export fee will apply. “The fee has largely been introduced to offset the administration costs involved in processing these transactions, ” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden.
Club News : Addington
Trainers as well as owners are being encouraged to get along to Addington Raceway’s annual Owners night this Friday. Starting at 5pm, the expo is free to all. The night will feature a number of stall-holders and an array of prizes and giveaways including an accommodation package to Australia worth around $3000, Bed and Breakfast at the Commodore Airport Hotel in Christchurch, and a free entry for a yearling at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.
“We are hopeful of getting around 250 people along,” says Addington Raceway’s Sponsorship Manager Rachel Deegan.
Harness Racing New Zealand will be among the stall-holders with Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden encouraging existing and prospective owners, as well as trainers to get along.
“It’s a valuable forum for everyone in the sport,” says Peden, “and especially useful for trainers who have shares available in yearlings that they bought in February.”
“It’s also a golden opportunity for trainers to promote themselves and get some free exposure.”
All trainers who get involved will receive a $50 card for Addington’s Spectators Bar and Bistro.
Club News – Wyndham
The prestigious Group 2 Macca Lodge NZ Kindergarten Stakes is the feature event of a quality day of harness racing at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Sunday (30 March). The Kindergarten Stakes is raced over 1609m for a stake of $60,000 and has been won by some of the great names of New Zealand harness racing including Young Quinn in 1972, the horse the course is named after. Young Quinn was one of Southland’ best pacers winning major races including the 1975 Miracle Mile in Sydney and the 1975 Interdominion Pacing Final. Other races on the programme on Sunday include the $40,000 Group 3 Champagne Stakes, Heat 3 of the Alabar NZ Southern Supremacy Series and the Hunter Family Handicap Pace. The day will be supported by a family fun day of entertainment with the ever- popular heads and tails game with a $150 Prezzy Card up for grabs plus plenty of free entertainment for the kids including mini jeeps, a bouncy castle, sack races, a scavenger hunt and lolly scramble. There will also be Kidz Kartz racing on the programme at the event. The action will commence from 12.05pm on the day and admission is free. Bring the gazebo or a picnic blanket and enjoy some top-quality harness racing along with some great entertainment.
Lindsay Beer
Promotions Officer
Southern Harness Racing
03 217 4288
021 351 499
