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Horse-of-the-Year hopeful primed for a bold run

By Duane Ranger Trainers Frank Cooney and Tate Hopkins only have one horse entered at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday and they have every reason to make the 340km return trip from Taupaki. The eight-race programme brings an end to the season at Cambridge Raceway and the Cooney and Hopkins trained Somewhereinbrooklyn has a royal chance of being crowned 2018's Dunstan Feeds Horse-of-the-Year. The son of Somebeachsomewhere has 25 points - just one behind the Andrew and Lynn Neal trained Credit Master. ...

SELECTIONS: Cambridge Raceway 01/07/18

Selections for the last meeting of the 2017-2018 season at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday July 1 are: by Duane Ranger Race 1: Spare Change, Redmaro, Whale Rider, A Chance To Dream. Race 2: Mega Queen, Littlebitoflove, Above The Rest, Swinging. Race 3: Downtown Babe, Zip Code, The Peacemaker, Tamara Gold. Race 4: Prime Silver, Sheza Springfield, Helena Ideal, M T Pockets. Race 5: Credit Master, Our Rosa Mortician, Danke. Race 6: Amaro, Rock N Shard, Hunter Red, Master Of Escape. Race 7: Somewhereinb...

2018 Dunstan Horse-of-the-Year a cliff hanger

By Duane Ranger Cambridge Raceway’s 2018 Dunstan Horse Feeds Horse of the Year title will come down to the wire at the final Waikato-BOP Harness meeting of the season on Sunday.  “I’m pleased it’s not a one-horse race. It’s great to see that there is just six points covering the first five horses and just one between front-runners Credit Master and Somewhereinbrooklyn,” said Dunstan Director and Founder Dave Smith. “That’s what it’s all about. We want as many people as p...

White Star Syndication Opportunity

Nicky Chilcott and White Star stables are excited to be able to offer shares in two cracking weanlings.For more info please click on the link below. ...

Special win for Stephen Doody

By Duane Ranger One of Cambridge Raceway’s biggest supporters, who has been travelling the 750km return trip from Palmerston North for nearly 40 years, trained his first winner on the track in almost two-and-a-half years on Thursday night. Manawatu-based horseman Stephen Doody trained Franco Empire, driven by Andre Poutama, to win the Montana Food & Events (2200m) Mobile for the R40 to R51 pacers. Driven by Andre Poutama, it was the four-year-old gelding’s second&nb...

Butcher chasing premiership at Cambridge

By Duane Ranger David Butcher was 22 when he won the New Zealand Junior Driving Premiership in the 1985-86 season. His youngest son Benjamin is also 22 and wants to emulate his Dad’s feat - and can go a long way to doing that at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The season, which ends on July 31, is about to heat up for Butcher, he currently has 35 wins – two less than pace-maker, Matt Anderson of Christchurch. "If I don't win the premiership this year I may never win it because it’s my ...

Selections 07.06.18

Selections for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness meeting Thursday June 7: by Duane Ranger Race 1: Pay Master, Whale Rider, Franco Caliph, Highview Justice. Race 2: El Dente, Colby, Zip Code, CD Express. Race 3: Franco Empire, Hunter Red, Rangi Rangdu, Mrs Zippy. Race 4: Cherokee Warrior, Gotta Go Jetaway, Artanne, Lynton Creek. Race 5: Some Change, Cerberus, Sheza Springfield, Hezaluckygrinner. Race 6: Malabar Spur, Need Luck, Primus Inter Pares, Littlebitoflove. Race 7: Spring Campaign, Bat Out...

Astute move brings Jewels joy

by Duane Ranger Westwood Beach trainer Graeme Anderson had some happy times when he resided in Cambridge, but none more so than what he experienced at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday afternoon. Anderson was not only made to feel welcome by the club and his former Waikato mates, but he also witnessed the best horse he has trained win the Group One $150,000 Allied Security Emerald for the 4yo pacing entires and geldings. Anderson trained Eamon Maguire to 20 of his first 24 starts – winning nine ra...

Chilcott duo looking to sparkle at Jewels finals

By Duane Ranger Local trainer Nicky Chilcott will line up two runners at the 12th annual Harness Jewels Finals at Cambridge Raceway on Saturday. Juice Brogden contests the Gr.1 $150,000 Woodlands Stud for 4yo pacing mares; and Monaro Mia will start in the Gr.1 $125,000 What The Hill 3yo Ruby Trot. “Juice has never felt this good. She pulled up a bit sick in the Messenger and we have treated her since and she’s literally grown wings. She trialled the best she ever has at Pukekohe two weeks ag...

Selections- Harness Jewels Grand Final 2.6.18

Selections for Waikato – BOP Harness Racing’s Harness Jewels Grand Finals – at CambridgeRaceway this Saturday (June 2) are: by Duane Ranger Race 1: Princess Tiffany, Havtime, Kayla Marie, Buzinga. Race 2: Enhance Your Calm, Full Noise, Tickle Me Pink, Oscar Bonavena. Race 3: Shez All Rock, Elle Mac, Bettor Joy, Delight In Me. Race 4: Juice Brogden, Partyon, Utmost Delight, Bonnie Joan. Race 5: Enghien, Dance Craze, Habibi Inta, Musculus. Race 6: Jesse Duke, Another Masterpiece, Petes Big J...

Chilcott chalks up another Oaks win

By Duane Ranger Waikato’s only trainer at this year’s Harness Jewels Final had another successful night at the office at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night. Cambridge conditioner Nicky Chilcott won her second Oaks within the space of six days when the Sailesh Abernethy driven Monaro Mia won the richest event at ‘The Raceway’. Monaro Mia followed up her Gr.3 $30,000 Haras des Trotteurs Northern Trotting Oaks victory at Alexandra Park last Friday night with a tough win in the inaugural $1...

‘The Godfather’ looking for his first NZ title

By Duane Ranger The ‘Godfather’ of the amateur driving movement in New Zealand – Steve Phillips – sets out on his first New Zealand title quest at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night. Phillips and his wife Anne recently relocated to the Waikato and Phillips said he would dearly love to win the first of the three New Zealand Championship heats scheduled for 5.10pm (Race 1). “We were going to have two heats - the same as Rangiora on May 27, but sadly we couldn't get enough horses for ano...

Selections: May 17 2018

By Duane Ranger Race 1: Pay Master, Whale Rider, Turbo. Race 2: Lion Rock, Gold Rocks, The Coordinator. Race 3 : Malabar Spur, Need Luck, Billy At Salsa. Race 4: Linc’s Bute Girl, Stand by Me, Changed. Race 5: American Legend, Proud Bromac, Gotta Go Jet Away. Race 6: Sex on Fire, Manaro Mia, Aoraki. Race 7: Forever Pearl, Christanna, Three Kisses. Race 8: Credit Master, CK Spur, Sunset Peak. Race 9: Trojan Banner, Caitlyn Clarke, Our Wicklow. Race 10: Vatican Hill, Littlebitoflove, Saint Miche...

Amateurs given a boost for NZ Champs at Cambridge

By Duane Ranger The New Zealand Amateur Driving Championships will receive an extra $2,000 in stakes money added to the two heats to be held at the Cambridge Raceway on May 17. Jeff Darby, president of the North Island branch of the NZ Amateur Drivers Association, said the stakes increase will make up the shortfall from other races as amateur stakes are less than other carded races on the programme. “I just want to thank Waikato-Bay of Plenty, all the owners and trainers, and our sponsors for ...

Cambridge’s connection to 2018 USA’s Blue Chip Matchmaker champion

by Duane Ranger The winner of last Saturday night’s (April 22) prestigious Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for Mares at Yonkers Raceway in New York has a strong Cambridge connection. The US$375,000 pace was taken out by a Kiwi bred - Shartin N, a 5-year-old mare whose sire, top Kiwi pacer Tintin In America, was bred by Bee Pears of Cambridge. Shartin N was sent out the $3.80 favourite and driver Tim Tetrick gave nothing else a chance winning the mobile mile by almost five lengths in 1:52.2 (27.2, ...

Craig comes up trumps at Cambridge

By Duane Ranger Craig Smith drove his first winner of the season, and first ever in the North Island, at the Cambridge Raceway on Wednesday night. Smith, who now has nine career wins to his credit and has been employed by John and Josh Dickie at Ardmore for just over six months, steered Lagertha to a one-and-a-quarter length victory in the sixth race - the $9,000 The Edge and Sulkies Party Zone Maiden Pace. "It was a real honour to drive this one home for John because he and his partner co-own t...

Selections: April 25 2018

Duane Ranger's selections for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Anzac Day meeting at Cambridge Raceway are: Race 1: Tickle Me Pink, She Reigns, Adele. Race 2: Ceberus, Bubbles O'Leary, Idealistic. Race 3: Linc's Bute Girl, Sly Eleanor, Inforthefight. Race 4: Express Play, Jameson Shard, Shandance. Race 5: Kiwi Tionton, Lynton Creek, Cullen's Caviar. Race 6: Tamara Gold, Ryans Girl, Rock N Shard. Race 7: Caitlin's Surprise, Malabar Spur, Flying Taine. Race 8: Somewhereinbrooklyn, Poppy Drayton, R...

Tickle Me Pink aiming for three straight in Trotting Stakes

By Duane Ranger Two-year-old filly Tickle Me Pink has already been rated by her trainer, Tony Herlihy (MNZM) as one of the best juvenile trotters he has conditioned. Herlihy said the Breckon Farms and Perfect Ten-owned bay showed promise from the day he broke her in. “I’ve done quite a bit with her and I soon found out that she is quite sensible and does what you ask of her,” he said.  “She has a lovely gait, has a bit of speed and can stay a bit,” th...

HARAS DES TROTTEURS WAIKATO OAKS

The opportunities’ keep on rolling in for the trotting ranks with the announcement today of the Haras des Trotteurs Waikato Trotting Oaks. To be held on May 17th at Cambridge Raceway, the $15,000 race comes hot off the success of the Haras des Trotteurs Southland Trotting Oaks held in March. The North Island opportunity was identified by Haras des Trotteurs and Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Racing Club with numerous benefits for industry participants stemming from the May event.  Cambridg...

Vanhalem upsets them at Cambridge

By Duane Ranger Pukekohe conditioner Craig Sharpe trained $25.50 outsider, Vanhalem, to a three-quarter length victory at 'The Raceway' on Wednesday night. The win in the sixth event - the $8,000 Mitre 10 Mega Cambridge Mobile for the R47 to R52 pacers was Sharpe's second Cambridge winner since training in his own right.Sharpe's first Cambridge victory since splitting with Todd MacFarlane in 2014-2015 came via Rarangi Jewel on September 8, 2016. He has now trained 86 career winners – six of th...

New Sponsorship and Corporate Sales rep for Cambridge Raceway

By Duane Ranger Robyn Gurney has been appointed as the Sponsorship and Corporate Sales rep at the Cambridge Raceway. The 28-year-old Waikato University graduate is new to the harness racing industry and that suits ‘The Raceway's’ CEO Dave Branch. "We have a fresh young team working at Cambridge and that excites me. We all have new ideas and it is always encouraging to hear what people from outside the industry think. We welcome Robyn to our team. She has a wonderful CV I'm sure she will of...

Selections: Cambridge Raceway 18.04.2018

By Duane Ranger Waikato - Bay Of Plenty Harness selections for Cambridge Raceway (Wednesday April 18) are: Non Tote 2yo Heat: Star Of Montana, Supreme Dominator, Make Way. Race 1: Agincourt, Monarchy Invasion, Flying Taine. Race 2: Caitlyn Clarke, It's Me, Inforthefight. Race 3: Tennyson Inlet, Pay Master, Runcie. Race 4: Drizella, Ryans Gal, Glenn Ford. Race 5: Luck Of The Moment, Malabar Spur, Rave Nation. Race 6: Express Play, Four Starzzz Legend, Idealistic. Race 7: Christanna, Jenora, Afort...

Express Play the best of Dickie’s drives

By Duane Ranger Former Cambridge and now Clevedon-based horseman Josh Dickie has four good drives at Cambridge Raceway on Wednesday night and the best of them he said comes in the sixth race. "Express Play is a lovely three-year-old filly trained by Frank Cooney & Tate Hopkins at Taupaki. I've driven her in her last two starts and that has been in stronger company. “She worked hard in the Nevele R Heat and she runs the gate well. From barrier one she looks the one to beat on paper," Dickie sai...

Cambridge Raceway launch pre-Jewels events

The 2018 edition of the Harness Jewels on June 2, is set to be the best yet with Cambridge Raceway today announcing two support events in advance of the much anticipated race day.   TAB Trackside’s popular Harness-focused show “The Box Seat” will be filmed in front of a live audience at Cambridge Raceway on Wednesday May 30. Then on Jewels Eve, Australasian racing personalities Michael Guerin, Adam Hamilton and Greg Hayes will host a casual event featuring one of Australia's most...

Mark Johnson returns to his homeland

By Duane Ranger Promising junior reinsman, Mark Johnson, has returned to his homeland to further his driving career, in Western Australia. The 21-year-old left New Zealand on Wednesday (March 21) and ‘Cambridge Raceway’ caught up with him while he was holidaying with family in New South Wales. “I’m here visiting my grandmothers, aunts and uncles, other family members and friends in Sydney before I head to Perth on Saturday,” said Johnson. “There are better opportunities for me in Per...