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TAB Trot Slot added to the Grins Night of Champions

Waikato-BOP Harness Racing, Entain Australia and New Zealand (TAB) and Harness Racing New Zealand are excited to announce Australasia’s first slot race for trotters, the TAB Trot Slot (2200m, mobile) worth $655,000.The ground-breaking race will be run alongside The Race by Grins for pacers on the illustrious Night of Champions at Cambridge Raceway on Friday April 12, 2024.“Our vision for the Night of Champions is ambitious,” Cambridge Raceway CEO Dave Branch said. ...

Mantra Blue goes three from three

By Michael GuerinHave we finally found a serious challenger to unbeaten filly Millwood Nike?Mantra Blue’s stunning recovery performance to win the Nevele R 50 Years of Success heat at Cambridge on Thursday night suggests we might have, even if trainer Zachary Butcher is trying to keep a lid on expectations.Having just her third start Mantra Blue not only looked in trouble having to start from the outside of the front line but her winning chances should have ended soon after the start as she wa...

Coastal Babe and Le Major take out Sires' Stakes heats at Cambridge

By Michael GuerinIf you think impressive Cambridge winner Coastal Babe still looks like a work in progress you should have seen her four months ago.The daughter of Downbytheseaside smashed some of the north’s best juvenile pacing fillies in her Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes heat on Thursday night, winning easily from a brave Ultimate Racy Girl and the favourite Kiss, who was three wide for the last lap.But as good as the placegetters were Coastal Babe won too easily in the hands of Matty ...

Clear Left gives Crystal Hackett her 50th win

By Michael Guerin, HRNZCambridge maiden winner Clear Left has a lot to live up to but he has at least started off on the right hoof.The son of Art Major was a winner at just his second start on Thursday night, clinging on to beat Rockafilly in the hands of Crystal Hackett, giving the in-form young driver her 50th career success, half of those this year.Trainer John Dickie says the win won’t be Clear Left’s last as he is at the improving stage of his young career but he also know he has some ...

Stable favourite gets home track win

Nobody on course at Cambridge on Thursday night was as excited about Prince Envy’s upset all-the-way win as trainer-driver Nicky Chilcott and her stable workers Leah Hibbell and Jordyn Bublitz.That’s because no horse is more loved around the White Star barn than the gentle seven-year-old black beauty they call Envy.“He’s a gorgeous looking horse but more than that he’s such a darling,” says Nicky. “You wouldn’t get a lovelier animal. He’d never kick or bite.” If you happ...

Branch decides against trans-Tasman move

Leading harness racing administrator Dave Branch has decided his immediate future will be in New Zealand.The chief executive of Cambridge Raceway and the key figure behind the $1m Race by Grins had been “seriously considering” a move to Australia. He’d been linked to a high profile job in Queensland he called “tempting”.“But in the end I feel there is a job that’s only been half done at Cambridge and I feel a lot of loyalty to the team there.”“We are on the cusp of a really exc...

Browns' golden run continues

By Michael GuerinWaikato trainer Peter Brown could barely have had a better month and not just because he is now the country’s leading strike rate trainer.If you don’t know Brown he has been knocking around the northern harness racing scene for years, never over playing his hand, a happy, respected guy.“The horses are just a hobby for Ros (wife) and I and we have waited a long time to have a couple of good ones,” explains Brown.What Brown should have said was the harness horses are just ...

Berger keeps racking up the wins

Mike Berger may joke these days about his age but that experience is helping him still train plenty of winners with his small team.Berger captured the first race at Cambridge on Thursday night when trotter Quik Sharnie made it two wins on end in the hands of Ben Butcher, downing leader Del Shannon via the passing lane. It was his seventh training success this year.But the Waikato trainer wasn’t there to see the win, watching from Canterbury where he had Cos I Can finish eleventh in Friday nigh...

Copy That again shows his class in the $1m Race by Grins

By Michael GuerinFor the little pacer who can Copy That the winning isn’t the hard part.He proved that again in the $1million Race by Grins at Cambridge on Friday night as he led and raced away from Old Town Road to record a paint by numbers victory in New Zealand’s richest harness race.Nothing new in that, Copy That was always going to be the horse to beat after drawing to find his favoured pacemaking role, his little legs spinning in a happy rhythm being when he is most potent.That is how ...

The Race by Grins Barrier Draw to be Live on SENZ radio Monday 6 pm

The all-important barrier draw for the 2023 The Race by Grins will be broadcast live on SENZ on Monday the 10th of April at 6pm.“With the four favoured horses unable to be separated by the bookies, it shows just how crucial this draw is going to be,” said Cambridge Raceway CEO Dave Branch.“The draw will be hosted by Michael Guerin and Greg O’Connor and overseen by RIB CEO Mike Clement. Horse names will be randomly drawn from a hat, and the corresponding connection will be called from the...

Self Assured rewards punters with Cambridge gem

By Michael Guerin, NZ HeraldNatalie Rasmussen was back doing what she does best at Cambridge on Thursday night, and the punters who stuck with Self Assured loved every second of it.Rasmussen, who had not driven in a race this season until Thursday, produced a gem of a drive to get Self Assured home in the $45,000 Flying Mile even after he started from the outside of the front line.The race was the final lead-up to the $1 million The Race next Friday and the defending champion did exactly what he...

Kango confirmed for The Race by Grins - "incredibly exciting"

By Michael GuerinJust a few years ago Arna Donnelly couldn’t have believed she would be where she is now.Where that is is the leading trainer in the Waikato and with her stable star Kango preparing to line up on her home track for $1million in The Race by Grins.Kango became the ninth and likely second-last invite to the race when his connections secured the Dunstan Feeds slot on Wednesday, bringing a real Waikato flavour to the April 14 race.He will not only have Donnelly as his trainer but th...

Hibell takes out junior drivers series

Cambridge driver Leah Hibell admits it wasn’t her best day in the cart but she was still delighted to be at Banks Peninsula today for the finale of the Hygain Revel Douglas Junior Drivers series which she won by the narrowest of margins.Hibell, 22, thought she had the series wrapped up after four races in the North Island when she led last year’s winner Alicia Harrison by one point and no southern driver could catch her.But, despite the original conditions of the series stipulating drivers c...

White to drive in The Big Dance

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskMatthew White is pinching himself as he prepares to drive in New Zealand’s richest race at Cambridge Raceway next month.The local horseman will partner Nicholas Cage in the $1million Race by Grins (2200m) on April 14 for Cambridge trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal.The four-year-old gelding sealed his place in the rich feature after a convincing 2-1/4 length victory in the Gr.3 Founders Cup (1700m) against a quality line-up at Alexandra Park last Friday.Nicholas Cag...

Night of upsets at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskIt was a night of upsets at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night and the meeting’s feature, the Bay of Plenty Cup (2700m), was no exception.Three victors paid more than $30 on the undercard prior to the main event and trainer Logan Hollis was intent on continuing the outsider trend with his charge Bet West.The Bettor’s Delight gelding was rated a $21 winning chance with bookmakers, but he belied his odds to take out the Cup after given a beautiful trip in the...

Mo Szyslak serves up another win at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskPukekohe pacer Mo Szyslak served up another win for his backers at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday.The son of Sweet Lou started the year off in perfect fashion when winning at the Waikato track last month and he doubled his season tally when victorious in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (2200m).Driver Peter Ferguson elected to ease his charge back from his wide draw to settle at the rear of the field.He hopped on the back of Franco Hoffman to get a cart into the ...

Whispering Artist scores at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskWhispering Artist upset the apple cart at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night when downing short-priced favourite Jolimont in the www.alexandrapark.co.nz For All Your Bookings Mobile Pace (2200m).The Art Major mare was first-up and despite her pleasing win in her 2050m workout a week prior, she was discounted by punters who let her drift out to be a $9 third favourite.From her front-row draw driver Matthew White found the early one-one position with Whispering Art...

Harness Millions night one to remember at Cambridge Raceway

Cambridge Raceway hosted the NZB Standardbred Harness Millions Series on Friday night, the showcase meeting for graduates of the national auction house usually takes place at Alexandra Park in Auckland which is currently out of action due to flood damage.The evening featured the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old C&G Final (2200m) won by Merlin and the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final (2200m) won by unbeaten filly Mill...

Gold Coin donation for Hawke's Bay Appeal

Our thoughts are with all those effected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle this week.We will be collecting gold coin donations at the gate for tomorrow's NZB Standardbred  Harness Millions meeting. There will also be collection buckets at the bars.All funds raised will be donated to the Hawke's Bay Appeal created by NZTR, Dunstan Horsefeeds and the NZTBA, which will deliver horse feed to provide immediate relief to the equine community in Hawke's Bay.More info and details on ho...

Dunstan Battle of the Breeds returns to Cambridge Raceway

Dunstan Horsefeeds Battle of the Breeds is back at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday February 26, bigger and better than ever before.Cambridge Raceway have partnered with Love Racing to bring a whole lot of standardbred vs. thoroughbred fun to the Waikato-BOP Harness Racing club’s meeting.The Dunstan Horsefeeds Battle of the Breeds, a three-phase equestrian event held in the infield to showcase the equine heroes of both codes in life after racing, will kick off prior to race one with a host of famil...

Have Your Say - North Island Harness Racing survey

Cambridge Raceway are leading a process to help harness racing stakeholders in the North Island find a shared and agreed way forward for future success.First up, we want to hear your views through this survey. This will help us understand where things are at now and what you see as the barriers to success and opportunities for improvement.Please click on the link below to complete this 10 minute survey, which closes on Friday 17th February at 5pm.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HarnessRacingNIThe...

Mission accomplished for Resolve

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskIt was a case of mission accomplished for Resolve at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The five-year-old mare was sent north with the Gr.3 Waikato Trotting Breeders’ Stakes (2700m) in-mind and she rewarded her connections with victory in the Cambridge feature.Resolve’s task was aided when race favourite Double Delight broke near the start, losing all chance in the race.Resolve didn’t have all favours at the start either, with driver Matthew White having ...

Harness racing recognised in Rural Sport Awards

Cambridge Raceway salutes two local identities Nicky Chilcott and Luk Chin who have received nominations for this year’s Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.The awards, to be held in Palmerston North on March 10 during the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, honour the country’s elite rural athletes, volunteers and administrators.Chilcott (sportswoman of the year) and Chin (lifetime legacy) are among four harness racing stars who have been nominated, along with Dexte...

Artisan serves up victory in Breeders’ Stakes

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskThe well-known silver and blue silks of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan were once again to the fore at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The Clevedon barn went into the meeting’s feature, the Waikato Pacing Breeders’ Stakes (1700m), with the two fancied runners and went home with the winning cheque courtesy of Artisan.Driver Zachary Butcher eased her off the gate from her wide draw to settle off the pace. She remained near the rear of the field before follow...

Marshall Australia bound

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskA return to Australia has always been on the cards for Kyle Marshall and the Waikato horseman believes now is the right time to go.Marshall spent time in Victoria under the tutelage of expat Kiwi trainer Brent Lilley nearly a decade ago and he has been enticed to cross the Tasman once more by the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club.“When I was with Brent Lilley nine years ago, it was always in my plan to eventually go back to Australia and give it a crack,” Marsh...